Networks and Career Mobility inside Large Bureaucratic Systems

• In Event: 571 - Section on Economic Sociology Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 11. Social Networks, Firms, and Investment

Abstract

This project investigates networks and career mobility inside a large bureaucracy using multiple approaches from network analysis. We hypothesize that network characteristics, such as sponsorship relations, community entrenchment and workplace status, have significant impact on one’s mobility prospect. Using PageRank and community detection algorithms and a discrete-time Markov chain for modeling job transitions, we have found conclusive evidence that network characteristics matter more than conventional non-network aspects, such as job performance, to bureaucratic career advancement.

Authors

• Qinglian Lu, Stanford University

• Xueguang Zhou, Stanford University