This paper estimates the relation between the size and quality of scientists' co-author networks and individual characteristics (notably productivity) in the context of institutional changes in French academia in the mid-1980s. The analysis employs the Two-Stage Residual Inclusion (2SRI) framework to handle endogeneity in individual productivity relative to the quality of co-authors. Data is taken from a novel database of French academic economists. The main finding is that the size and quality of authors' networks are positively related to their productivity; this is understood as evidence of assortative matching. Other effects on coauthor networks (life-cycles, specialities) are also identified.
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