Lotka's Law (Scientific Productivity)

Y_n = \frac{C}{n^\alpha}

Number of scientists producing n papers decreases as power law—few prolific, many with one paper.

By Alfred Lotka

Interdisciplinary Sciences

1926 · Alfred Lotka

Why it matters: Informed scientometrics, research policy, and Matthew effect studies.

Discoverers: Alfred Lotka (1926)

What does it mean?

Number of scientists producing n papers decreases as power law—few prolific, many with one paper.

Informed scientometrics, research policy, and Matthew effect studies.

Symbol	Name	Unit	Meaning
$Y_n$	Scientists	—	Number with n publications
$n$	Publications	—	Publication count
$α$	Exponent	—	Typically ~2

~60% of authors have exactly 1 publication.

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Y_n = \frac{C}{n^\alpha}

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Number of scientists producing n papers decreases as power law—few prolific, many with one paper.

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