RATES OF RETURN TO CITATION

Research shows that the rates of return to citation are substantial in the context of the academic reward system. Since quantitative perform ance measures, notably publication and citation counts, are associated strongly with life-cycle remuneration and career mobility, both shoul d be utilised in research assessment exercises. This paper brings toge ther empirical findings from the non-interacting research literatures of economics and information science to make the case for using citati on rates as a valid and cost-effective proxy for quality in certain di sciplines.