May 2025

IZA DP No. 17906: ‘Based on Admin Data!’: How Administrative Data Fosters Young Economists’ Career

This paper examines whether access to administrative data mitigates or reinforces inequalities in academic careers. We study the VisitINPS program, which grants researchers access to rich administrative records, and construct a longitudinal dataset covering the quasi-universe of applicants. Using a Two-Way Fixed Effects model complemented by a Regression Discontinuity Design, we find that administrative data access improves research visibility and career progression but does not increase overall publication volume. However, these gains are unequal and our findings suggest that administrative data access may magnify, rather than reduce, existing disparities in the academic economics community.