MEASURING GIANTS AND DWARFS - ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF ECONOMISTS

The emergence of ideas in economic science is dominated by scientists situated in the US. The brain drain to the US after de Second World Wa r gave economic scientists who stayed behind a chance to obtain a mono poly position in determining the development of economics in their hom e country. These facts are illustrated by a citations study of economi c science in the Netherlands. Especially one man, the Nobel laureate J an Tinbergen, has left an indelible mark on the way Dutch economic sci ence has developed. The development of Dutch economics shows strong pa th-dependence.