Matching and Network E¤ects

This paper examines the existence and magnitude of network e¤ects in the matching of workteams. We study the formation of co-author relations among economists over a thirty year period. Our principal \u85nding is that a collaboration emerges faster among two authors if they are closer in the social network of economists. This proximity e¤ect on collaboration is strong and robust but only a¤ects initial collaboration. It has no positive inuence on sub-sequent co-authorship. We also provide some evidence that matching depends on experience, junior authors being more likely to collaborate with senior authors