Economic scholars collaborating virtually during the pandemic.

The Rise and Fall of Peer Influence: How COVID-19 Changed Collaboration Among Economic Scholars

Lena Voss in Business & Economy September 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how the pandemic disrupted traditional academic networks and reshaped research productivity in economics."

Academic productivity, often measured by publications, is crucial for career advancement and institutional reputation. Understanding the factors that boost scholarly output is a long-standing question, with peer influence and collaboration dynamics playing a significant role. Robust social networks provide access to resources, spark new ideas, and increase publication opportunities. But what happens when a global crisis disrupts these networks?

The COVID-19 pandemic forced universities and research institutions to close, fundamentally altering how academics work and collaborate. This unprecedented situation provides a unique opportunity to examine how peer influence and co-authorship dynamics have changed among economic scholars. With remote work becoming the norm, scholars have faced both enhanced virtual collaboration and increased isolation, impacting their research productivity in unforeseen ways.

This article dives into a novel network dataset derived from Google Scholar, encompassing scholarly literature and co-authorship networks of economists. By analyzing publication counts during pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, we uncover how peer effects have shifted. We'll also explore gender and race differences, providing insights to inform policies aimed at promoting collaboration and boosting research productivity in the academic community.

The Shifting Sands of Peer Influence: Pre-Pandemic vs. Pandemic

Economic scholars collaborating virtually during the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, peer influence played a significant role in economists' productivity. Scholars with strong networks and frequent collaborations tended to publish more. However, the study reveals that this influence waned during the pandemic. This suggests that the sudden shift to remote work and virtual interactions disrupted the established dynamics of academic collaboration.

So, what factors contributed to this shift? Here are some potential explanations:

Disrupted Communication: The spontaneity of hallway conversations and informal discussions diminished, hindering the organic flow of ideas.
Increased Isolation: Remote work may have led to greater isolation, reducing opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Blurred Boundaries: Balancing work responsibilities with home duties created distractions and disruptions, impacting focus and productivity.
Diverse Collaboration: While overall peer influence decreased, scholars may have collaborated with a more diverse group of co-authors, potentially leading to less direct influence from immediate peers.

It's important to note that while peer influence decreased overall, collaboration didn't disappear. Instead, the nature of collaboration evolved, with scholars adapting to new virtual tools and communication methods. The challenge lies in understanding how to foster effective collaboration in this new landscape.

Looking Ahead: Fostering Collaboration in the New Normal

The findings of this study provide valuable insights for universities and research institutions seeking to enhance collaboration and productivity in the post-pandemic era. By understanding how peer influence has shifted, policymakers can develop targeted strategies to support scholars and foster effective research collaborations, ultimately boosting knowledge production and innovation within the academic community.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2404.1898,

Title: Networks And Productivity -- A Study In Economic Scholars During Covid-19

Subject: econ.gn physics.soc-ph q-fin.ec stat.ap

Authors: Hanqiao Zhang, Joy D. Xiuyao Yang

Published: 29-04-2024

Everything You Need To Know

How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact peer influence among economic scholars?

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered peer influence among economists. The study indicates that the influence of peers on research productivity, as measured by publications, decreased during the pandemic. This shift is attributed to several factors, including disrupted communication due to the absence of informal interactions, increased isolation from remote work, blurred boundaries between work and home, and a shift towards more diverse collaborations. These factors collectively disrupted established collaboration dynamics within academic networks, leading to a notable change in how economists influenced each other's research output.

What role did peer influence play in academic productivity before the pandemic, and how was this measured?

Prior to the pandemic, peer influence was a significant driver of productivity among economists. Scholars with robust social networks and frequent collaborations tended to publish more. This relationship was evident through the analysis of publication counts. Academic productivity, measured by publications, is a key indicator of career advancement and institutional reputation, making peer influence a crucial factor in scholarly output. The study employed a network dataset derived from Google Scholar to analyze co-authorship networks and publication patterns during pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, to assess the extent of peer influence.

What specific challenges did remote work and virtual interactions pose to collaboration among economists during the pandemic?

Remote work and virtual interactions presented several challenges to collaboration among economists. The study highlights that the shift to remote work diminished the spontaneity of communication, hindering the organic flow of ideas that typically occurs in informal settings. Increased isolation further reduced opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing. The blurred boundaries between work and home duties created distractions, impacting focus and productivity. These challenges collectively disrupted the established dynamics of academic collaboration, leading to a notable change in how economists interacted and influenced each other's work.

How did the nature of collaboration evolve during the pandemic, and what are the implications for the future?

During the pandemic, the nature of collaboration among economists evolved, even though peer influence decreased. Scholars adapted to new virtual tools and communication methods. While direct peer influence lessened, collaboration didn't disappear; instead, it changed. The study suggests that scholars may have collaborated with a more diverse group of co-authors. For the future, understanding how to foster effective collaboration in this new landscape is critical for universities and research institutions. They need to develop strategies to support scholars and promote effective research collaborations, ultimately boosting knowledge production and innovation. Policymakers can use the insights to create targeted strategies to enhance collaboration and boost research productivity in the post-pandemic era.

What data and methods were used to analyze the changes in peer influence and co-authorship dynamics?

The study employed a novel network dataset derived from Google Scholar. This dataset encompassed scholarly literature and co-authorship networks of economists. By analyzing publication counts during pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, the researchers were able to uncover shifts in peer effects. Furthermore, the analysis considered gender and race differences within the dataset, offering insights to inform policies aimed at promoting collaboration and boosting research productivity. The use of publication counts served as a proxy for academic productivity, providing quantifiable data to assess the impact of peer influence and co-authorship dynamics.