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Journal rankings and publication strategy

Author

Listed:
  • Piotr Śpiewanowski

    (Polish Academy of Sciences)

  • Oleksandr Talavera

    (University of Birmingham)

Abstract

We study the impact of journal ranking systems on publication outlet choice. We investigate the publication behavior of UK-based scholars registered on IDEAS/RePEc and analyze the publication outcomes of their academic work uploaded to the repository. Our estimates suggest that authors strategically choose outlets to maximize their publication scores. Our identification strategy is based on exploiting the change in the British ABS journal ranking in 2015. Working papers written before the 2015 ABS journal ranking change are significantly less likely to be published in ex-post downgraded journals. The effect cannot be attributed to the overall change in journal quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Piotr Śpiewanowski & Oleksandr Talavera, 2021. "Journal rankings and publication strategy," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(4), pages 3227-3242, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:126:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s11192-021-03891-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-021-03891-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Charemza, Wojciech & Lewandowski, Michał & Woźny, Łukasz, 2024. "On journal rankings and researchers' abilities," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 18(3).
    2. W Benedikt Schmal, 2023. "The X Factor: Open Access, New Journals, and Incumbent Competitors," Working Papers of Department of Management, Strategy and Innovation, Leuven 723956, KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Department of Management, Strategy and Innovation, Leuven.
    3. Buehling, Kilian, 2021. "Changing research topic trends as an effect of publication rankings – The case of German economists and the Handelsblatt Ranking," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 15(3).
    4. Mike Thelwall & Kayvan Kousha & Meiko Makita & Mahshid Abdoli & Emma Stuart & Paul Wilson & Jonathan Levitt, 2023. "In which fields do higher impact journals publish higher quality articles?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(7), pages 3915-3933, July.
    5. Klaus Wohlrabe & Constantin Bürgi, 2021. "What is the benefit from publishing a working paper in a journal in terms of citations? Evidence from economics," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(6), pages 4701-4714, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Journal rankings; AJG/ABS list; Publication strategy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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