American Economic Review
ISSN 0002-8282 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7981 (Online)
Certified Random: A New Order for Coauthorship
American Economic Review
vol. 108,
no. 2, February 2018
(pp. 489–520)
(Complimentary)
Abstract
Alphabetical name order is the norm for joint publications in economics. However, alphabetical order confers greater benefits on the first author. In a two-author model, we introduce and study certified random order: the uniform randomization of names made universally known by a commonly understood symbol. Certified random order (i) distributes the gain from first authorship evenly over the alphabet; (ii) allows either author to signal when contributions are extremely unequal; (iii) will invade an environment where alphabetical order is dominant; (iv) is robust to deviations; (v) may be ex ante more efficient than alphabetical order; and (vi) is no more complex than the existing alphabetical system modified by occasional reversal of name order.Citation
Ray, Debraj ⓡ Arthur Robson. 2018. "Certified Random: A New Order for Coauthorship." American Economic Review, 108 (2): 489–520. DOI: 10.1257/aer.20161492Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- A14 Sociology of Economics
- Z13 Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification