This paper analyses statistically the competitive examination called “concours d’agrégation,” that enables to become professor of economics in a French University. The period of observation is 1985-2001. We show that as time passes the sucessful candidates become younger and the proportion of women increases among them. This is not the case with the members of the juries. Candidates whose origin is a Parisian university are more successful than candidates from other locations, the rate of success varying across non Parisian universities. This rate of success is also higher, the youger the candidates. One failure at a previous examination does not compromise the probability of a success at the next one; being a woman does not constitute a disadvantage; on the opposite, during the examination, a topic very close to the research field decreases the probability of success whereas being related to a member of a jury (same university, Ph. D advisor etc.) increases it.
Classification JEL: A140.