Gregori Galofré-VilàNakhchivan State University2026-06-172026-06-172026-06-23https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jce.2026.02.007https://rims.khazar.org/handle/123456789/1381This 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.en-USJEL classification: Bibliometric analysis Citation trajectories Economics Empirical research Field journals Google scholar Network analysis Theory Top-five journals Web of science Keywords: Bibliometric analysis Citation trajectories Economics Empirical research Field journals Google scholar Network analysis Theory Top-five journals Web of sciencejournal-article