Academic economists need to be published, but is the journal system fair and efficient? Sebastian Galiani and Ugo Panizza tell Tim Phillips about a new free VoxEU ebook that tackles racism in publishing, whether you should be judged by your citations, and the tyranny of the top five. 
Download the eBook free from VoxEU here

The publication process in economics is characterised by long publication lags and excessive weight given to a very small number of journals, while the profession itself is seen by many as hierarchical, clubby and characterised by gender and racial biases. This column introduces an eBook which takes stock of these issues with a series of short essays focusing on how economists publish their research and measure academic success. While there is much to be proud of about the state of the economics profession, the chapters in the eBook suggest there is still work to be done to make economics more open and inclusive and the publication process fairer and more efficient.

In a biographical essay published before receiving the Nobel Prize, Angus Deaton wrote: 
It has

The publication process in economics is characterised by long publication lags and excessive weight given to a very small number of journals, while the profession itself is seen by many as hierarchical, clubby and characterised by gender and racial biases. This eBook takes stock of these issues with a series of short essays focusing on how economists publish their research and measure academic success. 

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In a biographical essay published before receiving the Nobel Prize, Angus Deaton wrote that compared with many other professions, economics is remarkably open to talent, and free of nepotism and patronage. This perception of openness is now being questioned by many who are pointing out