2014/19 | LEM Working Paper Series | |
Citations are Forever: Modeling Constrained Network Formation
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Pietro Battiston |
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Keywords | ||
Bibliometric indicators, Endogenous growth, Matthew effect, Research evaluation
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JEL Classifications | ||
D85, C10, C72, I23
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Abstract | ||
Determining the extent to which citation flows, and hence bibliometric
indicators based on them, reflect some intrinsic value of scientific
works is an important task made very difficult by endogeneity issues.
This paper presents an approach which allows to go beyond the abundant
anecdotal evidence by testing whether the citation behavior is free
from environmental factors. The hypothesis of independence is strongly
rejected, providing causal evidence of a Matthew effect at work:
namely, the publication of a new work on behalf of an author increases
the flow of citations to previous works. Such result is a step towards
the estimation of biases affecting bibliometric indicators, at least
when interpreted as measures of scientific productivity. The study is
based on a novel framework for the study of endogenous network growth
subject to constraints. Constraints can be both positive and negative,
and change in time depending on the actions of the agents. The
framework is not limited to citation networks, and can be applied to
any context in which the formation of a link inhibits or implies the
formation of another one.
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