First-author conditions

This paper provides a theoretical explanation for the persistent use of alp habetical name orderings on academic papers in economics. In a context in w hich market participants are interested in evaluating the relative individu al contribution of authors, it is an equilibrium for papers to use alphabet ical ordering. Moreover, it is never an equilibrium for authors always to b e listed in order of relative contribution. In fact, we show via an example that the alphabetical name ordering norm may be the unique equilibrium, al though multiple equilibria are also possible. Finally, we characterize the welfare properties of the noncooperative equilibrium and show it to produce research of lower quality than is optimal and than would be achieved if co authors were forced to use name ordering to signal relative contribution.