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Economics: Working Papers

This library guide provides information on the print and digital resources available for the study of the field of economics

What is a "Working Paper"?

Working papers are basically unpublished scholarly articles that have not been published or undergone the rigorous "peer review" process. In economics and other social sciences, researchers post these papers to obtain feedback or comments prior to submitting the article for review and publication. A benefit of the working paper is that ideas and research are made available to the scholarly community earlier than the traditional publication process, which may take three years or more from the time the article is submitted to a journal and when it is published. Searching working papers in addition to published articles is a useful way of locating current trends and ideas.

Here is a link to an interesting blog post written by Berk Ozler of the World Bank about issues surrounding "working papers."

Top Resources for Working Papers

Additional Sources for Working Papers