ABSTRACT: This study critically examines the post-prize effects of the National Outstanding Young Jurists Award on the productivity of legal scholars in China. By analyzing citation data, we explore how this prestigious award, established in 1995 to honor young legal talents, influences scholarly output over time. Contrary to expectations, our findings suggest a decline in citation productivity among subsequent awardees, particularly those recognised in recent years. This trend is attributed to the award’s broad criteria, which may inadvertently reduce the impetus for focused scholarly contributions. Societal expectations, such as the traditional pathway from scholarship to officialdom, encouraging recipients towards administrative roles, also play a role in diminishing academic productivity. A comparative analysis with the Excellent Works Prize, which celebrates specific academic achievements, indicates that awards tailored to individual accomplishments may better sustain long-term productivity. This research, despite its limitations, underscores the importance of rethinking the design and impact of academic awards to ensure they effectively foster and maintain scholarly excellence in Chinese legal academia.

KEYWORDS: Academic Awards, Incentive Mechanism, Matthew Effect, Overjustification Effect, Expectancy of Reward, Chinese Legal Academia