Paper #1520

Title:

Did cheaper flights change the direction of science?

Authors:

Christian Catalini, Christian Fons-Rosen and Patrick Gaulé

Date:

April 2016

Abstract:

We test how a reduction in travel cost affects the rate and direction of scientific research. Using a fine-grained, scientist-level dataset within chemistry (1991-2012), we find that after Southwest Airlines enters a new route, scientific collaboration increases by 50%, an effect that is magnified when weighting output by quality. The benefits from the lower fares, however, are not uniform across scientist types: younger scientists and scientists that are more productive than their local peers respond the most. Thus, cheaper flights, by reducing frictions otherwise induced by geography and allowing for additional face-to-face interactions, seem to enable better matches over distance.

Keywords:

scientific collaboration, air travel, temporary co-location, face-to-face meetings.

JEL codes:

03, R4, L93

Area of Research:

Business Economics and Industrial Organization / Labour, Public, Development and Health Economics

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