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Retractions

Author

Listed:
  • Pierre Azoulay

    (MIT and NBER)

  • Jeffrey L. Furman

    (Boston University and NBER)

  • Joshua L. Krieger

    (MIT)

  • Fiona Murray

    (MIT and NBER)

Abstract

To what extent does “false science” affect the rate and direction of scientific change? We examine the impact of over 1,100 scientific retractions on the citation trajectories of articles that are related to retracted papers in intellectual space but were published prior to the retraction event. Following retraction and relative to carefully selected controls, related articles experience a lasting 5% to 10% decline in the rate of citations received. This penalty is more severe when the retracted article involves fraud or misconduct rather than honest mistakes. In addition, we find that the arrival rate of new articles and funding flows into these fields decrease after a retraction.

Suggested Citation

  • Pierre Azoulay & Jeffrey L. Furman & Joshua L. Krieger & Fiona Murray, 2015. "Retractions," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 97(5), pages 1118-1136, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:97:y:2015:i:5:p:1118-1136
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    File URL: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/REST_a_00469
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economics of science; scienti c misconduct; retractions; status;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

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