Welcome to the club: Predictors of NBER membership in finance

Abstract

This study investigates the predictors of selection into the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) among finance scholars using a Cox proportional hazards model. It assesses the impact of academic achievements, professional networks, and gender on NBER membership. The findings reveal that publications in leading finance journals such as the Journal of Finance (JF), Journal of Financial Economics (JFE), and Review of Financial Studies (RFS), as well as awards from these journals, significantly increase the likelihood of selection. Additionally, a researcher's m-index strongly predicts NBER membership. Furthermore, female scholars and those with co-authorship connections to current NBER members are more likely to be selected. These results underscore the importance of scholarly output, prestigious awards, and professional networks in gaining recognition from the NBER. Moreover, the study provides new insights into gender equality in finance.