In this paper the reading behaviour of economists is examined to see whether particular types of knowledge - basic and applied - imply different investment patterns. As it turns out, the reading intensity of advanced theoretical and empirical literature declines with three to four percent per year of experience, although researchers and economists with a mathematical background start with a higher initial stock of knowledge of this type of literature. Business and government economists concentrate on applied literature and news magazines; a type of literature which is not frequently read by mathematical economists. However, the mathematical economists catch up with their non-mathematical colleagues in 12 to 15 years time. Furthermore, the introduction of graduate schools in Dutch academia has not brought about a fundamental change in reading habits. The biggest factor in explaining the divergence in reading behaviour among economists remains the mathematical, c.q. econometrics background in undergraduate training.

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hdl.handle.net/1765/7786
Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper Series
Tinbergen Institute

van Dalen, H. (1997). Acquiring Knowledge over the Economist’s Lifetime (No. TI 97-124/1). Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper Series. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/7786