Discussion Rational randomization by journal editors–a mathematical derivation: A response to Osterloh and Frey's discussion paper on ‘Borrowed Plumes’

Abstract

Should journal editors and grant-giving bodies ever make use of random-draw mechanisms to make their final decisions? This short Note argues that the answer is yes. It describes a mathematical rationale for such randomization. Put intuitively, random draw should be used when the gains from the acceptance of unorthodox path-breaking papers outweigh the costs of publishing the unorthodox poor papers. The mathematical case for this rests on an averaging argument and requires ‘convexity’ (of scientific influence) in a sense explained in the Note. The long-observed skewness of citations distributions is consistent with such convexity. Hence this Note attempts to offer a conceptual and practical addendum to the potentially important randomization proposal of Margit Osterloh and Bruno Frey (2020).