Sic Transit Gloria Mundi: What Remains of Famous Economists After Their Deaths?

Abstract

Can famous economics scholars extend their prominence to the time after their deaths? This question is analyzed for the period 1925-2018 for Nobel Prize laureates. We find that Nobel Prize winners who die prematurely are more likely to experience a marked reduction of attention from their peers, as measured by citations. In contrast, death does not produce this effect for famous economists dying at old age. A few scholars who died prematurely are an exception to the downward trend in attention after death. Such exceptions include Clive Granger, Elinor Ostrom, and to some extent Leonid Kantorovich.

Keywords: Nobel prize, Famous economists, Death, Citations, Arts

JEL Classification: A10, A11, I23, Z10, Z11