Did Cheaper Flights Change the Direction of Science?

Arbeitspapier

We test how a reduction in travel cost affects the rate and direction of scientific research. Using a fine-grained, scientist-level dataset within chemistry (1991-2012), we find that after Southwest Airlines enters a new route, scientific collaboration increases by 50%, an effect that is magnified when weighting output by quality. The benefits from the lower fares, however, are not uniform across scientist types: younger scientists and scientists that are more productive than their local peers respond the most. Thus, cheaper flights, by reducing frictions otherwise induced by geography and allowing for additional face-to-face interactions, seem to enable better matches over distance.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 9897

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Air Transportation
• Subject: scientific collaboration ; air travel ; temporary co-location ; face-to-face meetings

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Catalini, Christian ; Fons-Rosen, Christian ; Gaule, Patrick
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2016

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/141656
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET