Richard McElreath 🐈‍⬛

@rlmcelreath · Twitter ·

This is it, what I've trained for

A Mathematical Model of Quitting Academia Academia has problems, you might have heard. Many normative practices in the sciences benefit careers at the price of cumulative scientific knowledge. These problems could in principle be addressed through institutional reform. However many academics resist reform, and those who participate in reform behavior may be disadvantaged in competition for jobs and resources. Simultaneously, academics may find non-academic outside options more appealing, especially if they believe in reform. This is especially true for the most talented and skilled individuals, who have better outside options. When can reform spread within such a system, even though those who believe in it are passed over or are incentivized to leave? I construct and solve a dynamic model of this depressing scenario.