Ratio Working Paper No. 375: Shifts in Doctoral Education: Analyzing the Rising Popularity of Job Market Papers in Swedish Economics Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

This study examines the evolving structures of dissertations among 615 individuals who earned their PhDs in economics from Swedish institutions between 2010 and 2023. The findings indicate a shift away from traditional compilation dissertation, which typically consists of 4-5 papers intended for journal publication, towards the “Job Market Paper” model which consists of three papers. While over 70 percent of dissertations presented in 2010 were compilation dissertations, the number dropped to 43 percent in 2023. The structure of dissertations has varied over time, with a trend towards fewer included papers, peaking at 4.2 papers per dissertation in 2011 and dropping to 3.56 in 2023. Throughout the period, men wrote JMP dissertations slightly more frequently than women, with 40 percent compared to 35 percent for women. Many PhD students are unaware of how the format of their dissertation can affect future career prospects. The Swedish dissertation layout differs significantly between and within institutions. This shift is part of a wider adjustment in doctoral training, responding to increased international competition and changes in the academic job market. The study also discusses the implications of these trends for gender equality and institutional practices, suggesting that the evolving dissertation formats are a strategic response to both external market conditions and internal academic policies.