Network analysis of “top-five” economics journals

This paper examines patterns in knowledge production within the top-five economics journals
from 2000 to 2024. Drawing on the full set of published articles and associated bibliometric
details, citations, co-authorship links, and institutional affiliations, I document notable shifts in
the orientation of research. The share of theoretical work has declined, while empirical fields,
particularly development, labor, and public economics, have expanded. Network analysis shows
that although the substantive questions and analytical approaches in top-five journals are
changing, a small group of U.S. universities continues to account for a disproportionate share of
highly cited work and occupies central positions in citation networks, a core that at the same time
facilitates communication and exchange across fields.