The world of business and entrepreneurship research has seen a significant shift over the past few decades.  The number of papers published in this field has skyrocketed since the end of World War II.  The growth rate has been impressive, averaging a 17% increase per year since 1961.  This surge in publications might seem like a good thing, but there's a catch.

The quality of these papers, in terms of their disruptive potential, has been declining.  The average disruption score of papers has dropped by a factor of 36 between the 1960s and the 2010s.  This means that the ideas presented in these papers are not as groundbreaking or innovative as they used to be.  It's as if the well of new ideas is running dry.

Another interesting trend is the increase in team size per paper.  In the 1960s and 1980s, the average team size was around 1. 6.  But in the 2000s and 2020s, this number jumped to 2. 4.  This could be due to the increasing complexity of research or the need for more collaboration.  However, it could also indicate that researchers are stepping on each other's toes, leading to a lack of originality.

The decline in disruptive research and the increase in team size could be signs of a maturing field.  It's possible that all the low-hanging fruit has been picked, and what's left are more complex problems that require more effort and collaboration to solve.  But it could also be a sign of deeper issues in how research is organized and conducted.

One thing is clear: the field of business and entrepreneurship research is changing.  The question is, will it adapt and evolve, or will it stagnate and decline?  Only time will tell.  But one thing is for sure: the future of this field is uncertain, and it's up to the researchers to shape it.

ACADEMIC TRENDS OVER TIME

The Slowdown of Business and Entrepreneurship Research

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