Measuring Science: Performance Metrics and the Allocation of Talent by Fabian Waldinger

Join us for the latest Joint Economics / ISER Seminar Series event, Summer Term 2023.

Fabian Waldinger from LMU will present Measuring Science: Performance Metrics and the Allocation of Talent.

Abstract

We study how performance metrics affect the allocation of talent. We exploit the introduction of a new measure of scientific performance: citation metrics. For technical reasons, the first citation database only covered citations from certain journals and years. Thus, only a subset of citations became visible, while others remained invisible. We identify the effects of citation metrics by comparing the predictiveness of visible to invisible citations. Citation metrics increased assortative matching between scientists and departments. We also find that highly-cited scientists in lower-ranked departments (“hidden stars”) benefited from citation metrics, while minorities did not. Citation metrics also affected promotion decisions.

The seminar will begin with a presentation and will end with a Q and A session.

It will be held in the Economics Common Room at 12noon on Thursday 4th May. This event is open to all levels of study and is also open to the public. To register your place and gain access to the webinar, please contact the seminar organisers.

This event is part of the Joint Economics / ISER Seminar Series.