The contribution of Australian academia to the world’s best economics research: 2001-2010

This paper investigates the output of top-tier economics research by Australian academic economists from 2001 to 2010. By constructing and analysing a unique database of all substantive publications in the world’s top 45 economics journals, we compare Australia’s output with those of over 100 other countries, determine whether Australia’s output has increased since 2001, and rank Australian universities based on their output. Our analysis suggest that Australia’s output of top-tier economics research, both in absolute and relative terms, increased over the study period and that on a per capita basis, appears to be converging to the levels of the most research intensive countries. Our analysis also suggests that the long standing dominance of the top one or two Australian universities is diminishing.