The rise of quantitative work in economics

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorGeorg, Co-Pierre
dc.contributor.authorMakhathini, Sbongakonke Sandisiwe
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-26T13:15:11Z
dc.date.available2026-06-26T13:15:11Z
dc.date.issued2026
dc.date.updated2026-06-26T12:40:58Z
dc.description.abstractThe 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.
dc.identifier.apacitationMakhathini, S. S. (2026). <i>The rise of quantitative work in economics</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43405en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMakhathini, Sbongakonke Sandisiwe. <i>"The rise of quantitative work in economics."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics, 2026. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43405en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMakhathini, S.S. 2026. The rise of quantitative work in economics. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43405en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Makhathini, Sbongakonke Sandisiwe AB - 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. DA - 2026 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - economic journals KW - quantitative methods LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2026 T1 - The rise of quantitative work in economics TI - The rise of quantitative work in economics UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43405 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/43405
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMakhathini SS. The rise of quantitative work in economics. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics, 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43405en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentSchool of Economics
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Commerce
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjecteconomic journals
dc.subjectquantitative methods
dc.titleThe rise of quantitative work in economics
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMPhil
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_com_2026_makhathini sbongakonke sandisiwe.pdf
Size:
2.52 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.72 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters