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When a B becomes an A: causal evidence on the effects of a journal ranking update on academics' publication behavior.

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Title: When a B becomes an A: causal evidence on the effects of a journal ranking update on academics' publication behavior.
Authors: Fernandes, Mario (AUTHOR), Becker, Martin G. (AUTHOR), Pull, Kerstin (AUTHOR), Walter, Andreas (AUTHOR)
Source: Studies in Higher Education. Dec2025, Vol. 50 Issue 12, p2942-2963. 22p.
Subjects: Academia, Scholarly publishing, Research personnel, Causal inference, Scholarly periodicals
Geographic Terms: Austria, Germany
Abstract: Exploiting a quasi-natural experiment and using a difference-in-differences approach, we provide causal evidence on academics' response to the update of a survey-based journal ranking. Focusing on business researchers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, we find that academics who are affected by the journal ranking shift their publication strategies, publishing relatively more in journals that have been upgraded than in journals that have retained their rank. More specifically, affected academics shift to journals that have been upgraded from B to A and less to those that have been upgraded from C to B. Younger and more actively publishing academics are more likely to react to journal upgrades. By identifying academics' causal response to a journal ranking update, our study highlights the power of incentives in academia and allows us to derive important implications on the governance of higher education systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Studies in Higher Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: When a B becomes an A: causal evidence on the effects of a journal ranking update on academics' publication behavior.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fernandes%2C+Mario%22">Fernandes, Mario</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Becker%2C+Martin+G%2E%22">Becker, Martin G.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pull%2C+Kerstin%22">Pull, Kerstin</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Walter%2C+Andreas%22">Walter, Andreas</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Studies+in+Higher+Education%22">Studies in Higher Education</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 50 Issue 12, p2942-2963. 22p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academia%22">Academia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scholarly+publishing%22">Scholarly publishing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+personnel%22">Research personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Causal+inference%22">Causal inference</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scholarly+periodicals%22">Scholarly periodicals</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Exploiting a quasi-natural experiment and using a difference-in-differences approach, we provide causal evidence on academics' response to the update of a survey-based journal ranking. Focusing on business researchers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, we find that academics who are affected by the journal ranking shift their publication strategies, publishing relatively more in journals that have been upgraded than in journals that have retained their rank. More specifically, affected academics shift to journals that have been upgraded from B to A and less to those that have been upgraded from C to B. Younger and more actively publishing academics are more likely to react to journal upgrades. By identifying academics' causal response to a journal ranking update, our study highlights the power of incentives in academia and allows us to derive important implications on the governance of higher education systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Studies in Higher Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=189731497
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        Value: 10.1080/03075079.2024.2447788
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Causal inference
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              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
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