Classifying top economists using archetypoid analysis

ABSTRACT

Updating the study by Seiler and Wohlrabe (2013) we use archetypoid analysis to classify top economists. The approach allows us to identify typical characteristics of extreme (archetypal) values in a multivariate data set. In contrast to its predecessor, the archetypal analysis, archetypoids always represent actual observed units in the data. Using bibliometric data from 776 top economists we identify four archetypoids. These types represent solid, low, top and diligent performer. Each economist is assigned to one or more of these archetypoids.

KEYWORDS:

• Archetypoid analysis
• classification
• RePEc
• economists

JEL:

• C38
• I21
• I23

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data is available upon request.

Notes

¹ RePEc data has often been used in bibliometric studies. See, inter alia, Rath and Wohlrabe (2016), Meyer and Wohlrabe (2018), Sommer and Wohlrabe (2017), Bornmann, Butz, and Wohlrabe (2018) or García-Suaza, Otero, and Winkelmann (2020).

² For each ranking only the top 5% of all registered economists are shown on the RePEc website.

³ Since a potential flattening can also be detected for 3 and 5 archetypoids we tested how the results change, if a different number of archetypoids is considered. The change mainly affects the performers between the top and low class most. Simply put, if 3 archetypoids are considered, the solid and diligent performer are summed up to one group. If 5 archetypoids are considered, the solid performer is further distinguished into a (relatively) top and low class. The detailed results can be provided by the authors upon request.