van Dalen, HP; Klamer, A Is science a case of wasteful competition? KYKLOS, 58 (3): 395-414 2005

[Eugene Garfield]

E-mail Address: vandalen at few.eur.nl; klamer at fhk.eur.nl 

Author(s): van Dalen, HP; Klamer, A 

Title: Is science a case of wasteful competition? 

Source: KYKLOS, 58 (3): 395-414 2005 

Language: English 

Document Type: Article 

Keywords Plus: ECONOMIC RESEARCH; DRY HOLES; JOURNALS 

Abstract: Science is a winner-take-all profession in which only a few 
contributions get excessive attention and the large majority of papers 
receive scant or no attention. This so-called 'waste', together with all 
the competitive strategies of scientists seeking attention, is part and 
parcel of every creative profession and not a worrisome fact, as the price 
society pays for human ingenuity is extremely small: 0.0006 percent of 
world income goes into the publication of scientific research. The more 
worrisome features of competition in academic economics do not reveal 
themselves through ordinary citation or publication statistics or 
competitive attention seeking strategies, like starting fads and 
networking. Badly designed uses of market principles, in which citations 
and publications have become the sole measuring rod of 
scientific 'productivity', deserve more attention instead of the excessive 
focus on being uncited. To detect the real story of scientific progress, 
or to judge academic work, 'reality economics' or 'learning by asking and 
watching' should complement citation and publication statistics. 

Addresses: Erasmus Univ, Dept Econ, SEOR, ECRI, NL-3000 DR Rotterdam, 
Netherlands; Tinbergen Inst, NL-3000 DR Rotterdam, Netherlands; 
Interdisciplinary Demog Inst, NL-2502 AR The Hague, Netherlands; Dept Hist 
& Arts, NL-3000 DR Rotterdam, Netherlands 

Reprint Address: van Dalen, HP, Erasmus Univ, Dept Econ, SEOR, ECRI, POB 
1738, NL-3000 DR Rotterdam, Netherlands. 

E-mail Address: vandalen at few.eur.nl; klamer at fhk.eur.nl 

Cited Reference Count: 43 

Times Cited: 1 

Publisher: BLACKWELL PUBLISHING 

Publisher Address: 9600 GARSINGTON RD, OXFORD OX4 2DQ, OXON, ENGLAND 

ISSN: 0023-5962 

29-char Source Abbrev.: KYKLOS 

ISO Source Abbrev.: Kyklos 

Source Item Page Count: 20 

Subject Category: Economics 

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