PRODUCTIVITY EFFECTS OF RESEARCH ASSESSMENT EXERCISES

Abstract ______________________________________________________________________________ This paper provides an empirical,estimation of the research productivity effects associated with,periodic Research Assessment Exercises. From a sample of academic economists in the UK, data are taken directly from each individual’s vita, permitting us to construct a detailed longitudinal data set with specific productivity measures at various points along each individual’s experience-productivity profile. Our general approach ,was ,to measure individual productivity levels during a period ,immediately ,before each RAE event and for a period ,immediately after the event. Our results suggest that these periodic assessment exercises have increased the cumulative research