Publications
Publications
- 2023
- HBS Working Paper Series
How Important Is Editorial Gatekeeping? Evidence from Top Biomedical Journals
Abstract
We examine editors’ influence on the scientific content of academic journals by unpacking
the role of three major forces: journals’ stated missions, the aggregate supply of and
demand for specific topics, and scientific homophily via editorial gatekeeping. In a
sample of top biomedical journals, we find the first two forces explain the vast majority of
variation in published content. The upper bound of the homophily effect is statistically
significant but practically much less important. Marginal changes to the composition of
editorial boards do not meaningfully impact journals’ content in the short run. However,
we cannot rule out persistent or pervasive frictions in the publication process.
Keywords
Citation
Krieger, Joshua L., Kyle R. Myers, and Ariel D. Stern. "How Important Is Editorial Gatekeeping? Evidence from Top Biomedical Journals." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 22-011, September 2021. (Revised January 2023. Accepted at Review of Economics and Statistics.)