The peer-review system: time for re-assessment?

Referees are the backbone of quality control. They need more recognition fo r their work. In an open exchange of opinions among a number of leading edi tors and experienced reviewers one suggestion has wide support: It should n o longer be 'free' to submit a manuscript to a scientific journal. While ca sh payment for reviews is not considered a good idea, a 'payback in kind' s ystem is favored: i.e., if you want to submit papers to a journal you must be willing to review for that journal.