Measuring Nepotism in Italian Academia
Author Information
Author(s): Stefano Allesina
Primary Institution: University of Chicago
Hypothesis
Can standard statistical techniques based on shared last names among professors detect nepotism in Italian academia?
Conclusion
Nepotism is prevalent in Italian academia, particularly in certain disciplines and regions.
Supporting Evidence
- 9 out of 28 disciplines showed a significant lack of last names, indicating high nepotism.
- More than half of Italian professors work in disciplines with a high likelihood of nepotism.
- A clear north-south trend in nepotism likelihood was observed, increasing with latitude.
Takeaway
This study shows that many professors in Italy share last names, which suggests that they might be related, indicating nepotism in hiring practices.
Methodology
The study analyzed the last names of 61,340 Italian professors to assess the likelihood of nepotism using statistical models and Monte Carlo simulations.
Potential Biases
The study's reliance on last names may not accurately reflect all nepotistic relationships.
Limitations
The analysis may underestimate nepotism as it does not account for mother-child relationships and other familial connections.
Participant Demographics
The dataset included 61,340 tenured academics in Italy, with 34.33% being women.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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