Network Effects and Research Collaborations

IMF Working Papers, July 24, 2020

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Authors: Dennis Essers, Francesco Grigoli, Evgenia Pugacheva
Date: July 24, 2020
Core objective: Study the determinants of new and repeated research collaborations using the co-authorship network of the IMF Working Papers series.
Key context: The IMF Working Papers series is an outlet where authors express their views on topics of interest and IMF staff are not subject to “publish-or-perish” conditions, making it an appropriate testing ground to examine the endogenous nature of co-authorship formation.

Network structure:
- The co-authorship network is characterized by many authors with few direct co-authors, yet indirectly connected to each other through short co-authorship chains.
Determinants of starting collaborations:
- A shorter distance in the co-authorship network is key for starting research collaborations.
- Higher research productivity helps to start collaborations.
- Being employed in the same department helps to start collaborations.
- Having citizenship of the same region helps to start collaborations.
Determinants of repeating collaborations:
- Higher research productivity helps to repeat collaborations.
- Being employed in the same department helps to repeat collaborations.
- Having citizenship of the same region helps to repeat collaborations.
Cross-network-size collaborations:
- Authors with different co-authorship network sizes are more likely to collaborate, possibly reflecting synergies between senior and junior staff members.