Scientific-funding bodies are increasingly under pressure to use journal rankings to measure research quality. Hiring and promotion committees routinely hear an equivalent argument: 'this is important work because it is to be published in prestigious journal X'. But how persuasive is such an argument? This paper examines data on citations to articles published 25 years ago. It finds that it is better to write the best article published in an issue of a medium-quality journal such as the "OBES" than all four of the worst four articles published in an issue of an elite journal like the "AER". Decision-makers need to understand this. Copyright (c) The London School of Economics and Political Science 2006.
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Article provided by London School of Economics and Political Science in its journal Economica.
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Jan Ours & Frederic Vermeulen, 2007.
"Ranking Dutch Economists,"
De Economist,
Springer, vol. 155(4), pages 469-487, December.
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Other versions:
Ours, J.C. van & Vermeulen, F.M.P., 2007.
"Ranking Dutch Economists,"
Discussion Paper
2007-72, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
[Downloadable!]
Hunter, Rosalind S. & Oswald, Andrew J. & Charlton, Bruce G., 2009.
"The Elite Brain Drain,"
IZA Discussion Papers
4005, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).
[Downloadable!]
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