Certified Random: A New Order for Coauthorship

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Ray, Debraj; Robson, Arthur
• 署名单位: New York University; University of Warwick; Simon Fraser University
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.20161492
• 发表日期: 2018
• 页码: 489-520
• 关键词: SURNAME; games

摘要

Alphabetical name order is the norm for joint publications in. economics. However, alphabetical order confers greater benefits on the first author. In a two-author model, we introduce and study certified random order: the uniform randomization of names made universally known by a commonly understood symbol. Certified random order (i) distributes the gain from first authorship evenly over the alphabet; (ii) allows either author to signal when contributions are extremely unequal; (iii) will invade an environment where alphabetical order is dominant; (iv) is robust to deviations; (v) may be ex ante more efficient than alphabetical order; and (vi) is no more complex than the existing alphabetical system modified by occasional reversal of name order.