I wish HOPE all the best in getting relisted and in improving its citation  
impact ranking.  
  
The methodology employeed at ISI is different from what it used to be when  
the index was produced in paper and you had to make a trip to the library to  
track citations.  The changes in the methodology have impacted that citation  
rankings of journals, and also individuals --- scholars who publish books in  
economics, or scholars who publish articles outside the main citation impact  
journals will find their ranking dwindling, when actually a broader search  
would reveal a greater scholarly influence than is recorded by the new ISI.  
If you look at econphd.net you will see the absurdity of this when the  
listing of departments that value history of thought and methodology is  
made.  
  
Anyway, many of these issues are explored in Econ Journal Watch --- an  
outstanding resource.  
  
This link will bring you to an issue devoted to the ISI and ranking methods:  
  
http://www.econjournalwatch.org/main/archive_section.php?categories_id=4  
  
  
Peter Boettke