Do Economics Departments Search Optimally in Faculty Recruiting?

We find that it is optimal for higher-quality departments to search broadly across many or even all fields in faculty recruiting, whereas it is optimal for lower-quality departments to conduct narrower searches. We develop a simple search model in which optimal search scope is shown to increase in department quality. Using data from Job Openings for Economists, we find that higher-ranked departments do conduct broader searches. We find that a 10-place increase in department ranking is associated with 3.5-4.8 more Journal of Economic Literature subfields listed in a position announcement