Seminar by Prof. Alessandro Iaria, ENSAE
Event details
| Date | 30.09.2016 |
| Hour | 14:00 › 15:30 |
| Speaker | Prof. Alessandro Iaria, ENSAE |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
"Frontier Knowledge and Scientific Production: Evidence from the Collapse of International Science in the Wake of WWI "
Abstract
We analyze the role of frontier knowledge for scientific production. First, we show that citing frontier work is correlated with writing hit papers. Second, we investigate a period of reduced international knowledge flows during WWI and the subsequent boycott against scientists from Central countries. During this period, knowledge flows between scientists from Allied and Central countries were substantially reduced, as measured by citations in scientific papers. Even frontier papers experienced substantial reductions in citations from scientists in opposing camps. Additional results indicate that the reduction in citations were predominately driven by a reduction in supply of foreign knowledge, rather than a fall in demand. Third, we show that scientists in field times country combinations that were more dependent on frontier knowledge from the enemy camp published fewer and lower quality papers after the onset of the war, compared to scientists in field times country combinations that sourced the majority of their frontier knowledge from home.
Abstract
We analyze the role of frontier knowledge for scientific production. First, we show that citing frontier work is correlated with writing hit papers. Second, we investigate a period of reduced international knowledge flows during WWI and the subsequent boycott against scientists from Central countries. During this period, knowledge flows between scientists from Allied and Central countries were substantially reduced, as measured by citations in scientific papers. Even frontier papers experienced substantial reductions in citations from scientists in opposing camps. Additional results indicate that the reduction in citations were predominately driven by a reduction in supply of foreign knowledge, rather than a fall in demand. Third, we show that scientists in field times country combinations that were more dependent on frontier knowledge from the enemy camp published fewer and lower quality papers after the onset of the war, compared to scientists in field times country combinations that sourced the majority of their frontier knowledge from home.
Practical information
- General public
- Free