The rise of quantitative work in economics

Makhathini, Sbongakonke Sandisiwe

The rise of quantitative work in economics

Thesis / Dissertation

2026

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

School of Economics

Faculty

Faculty of Commerce

Abstract

The evolution of economic journals from 1940 to 2010 reflects a growing reliance on quantitative methods, driven by the increasing availability of data and the need for research to address complex economic challenges. This study analyses trends in the use of equations, figures, and tables across five leading economics journals—American Economic Review, Econometrica, Journal of Political Economy, Quarterly Journal of Economics, and Review of Economic Studies—to investigate the empirical turn in economics. Regression analysis reveals significant increases in the use of quantitative methods over time, with z-scores identifying critical periods of change. These shifts are influenced by editorial mandates, historical economic events, and technological advancements. The findings underscore the methodological transformation of economics and its implications for the discipline's engagement with empirical and policy-relevant questions.

Keywords

economic journals

quantitative methods

Reference:

Collections

Masters

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