1. What Wins Awards?
American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting,
Denver, CO, August 1-4, 2004
Steven S. Vickner
Associate Professor
Department of Economics
Utah State University

2. What Wins Awards? Sorry, no magic formula to report.
Instead thoughts from current and former editors of major agricultural economics journals.

3. Thoughts on Research Excellence
First application of a theory from general economics.
Better still… development of a new theory with empirical evidence supporting the theory.
Empirical evidence that confirms the theory. Strong empirical results.

4. Thoughts on Research Excellence
An analysis that sheds light on a problem that is heavily debated by agricultural economists but previous empirical analyses have fallen short. For example, do farm program payments preserve a structure of agriculture such that smaller operations can survive and prosper? Are farmers harmed by increasing marketing margins on basic agricultural commodities?

5. Thoughts on Research Excellence
A good application of new or existing theory to pressing issues with strong policy implications (and good data).
An important question that matters to agricultural economists. A relevant article.
Methodology that is innovative (not necessarily new methods, perhaps existing methods applied in a new manner).

6. Thoughts on Research Excellence
Insights that aren’t achievable by common sense or standard approaches to the problem.
A paper that takes us to a new level of understanding.
A paper that fundamentally changes the way we think about a subject.

7. Thoughts on Research Excellence
A leap forward, not just a marginal contribution.
Importance of topic, that in effect this has been a question for a while.
How well this question was addressed (now this typically involves econometrics).
Can be a conceptual model where the problem is cast in a different light and the solution is found in a way different manner than the literature prescribes.

8. Final Thoughts
Economists usually don’t start out thinking how do I write an award-winning article.
These path breaking articles involve some risk taking by the authors – challenge the establishment. (note incentive structure for tenure track profs however)
Publish a lot / submit a lot and thick skin.
The runner-ups.