Evolution of social norms with heterogeneous preferences: A general model and an application to the academic review process

Azar, Ofer H. (2002): Evolution of social norms with heterogeneous preferences: A general model and an application to the academic review process. Forthcoming in: Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

Abstract

The article presents a model of social norm evolution, which suggests how the increase in optimal and actual first response times (FRT) of economics journals can be related. When the optimal FRT and the norm about how much time refereeing should take increase, it seems that the existence of a norm increases the average refereeing time. The model suggests the surprising result that this is not necessarily true. I also discuss applications of the model in other contexts, differences in the optimal FRT between disciplines, the effects of the FRT on the tenure process, and strategic behavior of referees.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Institution: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
• Language: English
• Keywords: social norms; evolution; first response times; refereeing; academic publishing; turnaround times; journals; review process
• Subjects: L - Industrial Organization > L8 - Industry Studies: Services > L82 - Entertainment ; Media; Z - Other Special Topics > Z1 - Cultural Economics ; Economic Sociology ; Economic Anthropology > Z13 - Economic Sociology ; Economic Anthropology ; Social and Economic Stratification; A - General Economics and Teaching > A1 - General Economics > A14 - Sociology of Economics; A - General Economics and Teaching > A1 - General Economics > A10 - General; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I2 - Education and Research Institutions > I23 - Higher Education ; Research Institutions

References

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