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Publishing as Prostitution? Choosing Between One�s Own Ideas and Academic Failure

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  • Bruno S. Frey

Abstract

Survival in academia depends on publications in refereed journals. Authors only get their papers accepted if they intellectually prostitute themselves by slavishly following the demands made by anonymous referees without property rights on the journals they advise. Intellectual prostitution is neither beneficial to suppliers nor consumers. But it is avoidable. The editor (with property rights on the journal) should make the basic decision of whether a paper is worth publishing or not. The referees only give suggestions on how to improve the paper. The author may disregard this advice. This reduces intellectual prostitution and produces more original publications.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruno S. Frey, "undated". "Publishing as Prostitution? Choosing Between One�s Own Ideas and Academic Failure," IEW - Working Papers 117, Institute for Empirical Research in Economics - University of Zurich.
    • Handle: RePEc:zur:iewwpx:117
    as

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    File URL: https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/52017/1/iewwp117.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Academics as Prostitutes
      by andrewdsmith in The Past Speaks on 2011-02-03 20:37:10
    2. Getting rid of academic journals or changing the review system?
      by Andrew in Statistical Modeling, Causal Inference, and Social Science on 2009-12-29 19:09:00
    3. Why Journals?
      by Ekkehart Schlicht in RePEc blog on 2009-12-16 06:25:26

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    Cited by:

    1. David Moroz, 2005. "Production of Scientific Knowledge and Radical Uncertainty: The Limits of the Normative Approach in Innovation Economics," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 305-322, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    academic market; publications; economics of economics; intellectual prostitution;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
    • Z00 - Other Special Topics - - General - - - General

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