Who runs the AEA?

Arbeitspapier

The leadership structure of the American Economics Association is documented using a biographical database covering every officer and losing candidate for AEA offices from 1950 to 2019. The analysis focuses on institutional affiliations by education and employment. The structure is strongly hierarchical. A few institutions dominate the leadership, and their dominance has become markedly stronger over time. Broadly two types of explanations are explored: that institutional dominance is based on academic merit or that it based on self-perpetuating privilege. Network effects that might explain the dynamic of increasing concentration are also investigated.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: CHOPE Working Paper ; No. 2020-12

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Role of Economics; Role of Economists; Market for Economists ; History of Economic Thought since 1925: Other ; Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
• Subject: American Economic Association ; prosopography ; academic networks

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Hoover, Kevin D. ; Svorenécík, Andrej
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Duke University, Center for the History of Political Economy (CHOPE)
• (where): Durham, NC
• (when): 2020

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.2139/ssrn.3741439
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/228865
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET