Amen to Marie Duggan.  "... econometric substantiation of minute points" has
become a widespread curse, coupled with myopic acceptance of major
reactionary points spun out by richly endowed foundations, secessionists,
eugenicists, franchise narrowers, xenophobes, et al.

Mason Gaffney

-----Original Message-----
From: Societies for the History of Economics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Duggan, Marie
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 9:23 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [SHOE] New Topic - Savage attack on HET "down-under"

It appears that only those living in New Zealand or Australia are eligible
for giving feedback.  Is there another way? 
Of course, HOPE is an A journal, top in it's field, and the field is
important.  Many will be referring to HOPE articles for decades.  To be
honest, I have recently realized that the Journal of Economic History has
gone so very intensely focused in econometric substantiation of minute
points, that it seems to me it is losing its relevance. I can't see very
many reading those in 50 years. It seems like fashion is winning out over
substance with that list. 
Marie Duggan, Keene State College 


-----Original Message-----
From: Societies for the History of Economics on behalf of John Lodewijks
Sent: Tue 9/10/2013 6:13 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [SHOE] New Topic - Savage attack on HET "down-under"
 
                                    Savage Attack on HET "Down-Under"

The Australian Business Deans Council has just released its journal rankings
and to the dismay of historians of economics it has downgraded HOPE from an
A listed journal to a B.

The ABDC is a national council comprising Deans, Heads and Directors of
Australian University business faculties and schools. Most, but not all,
Departments of Economics are in business faculties in Australia.

In an earlier ranking exercise, the Australian Research Council ranked HOPE
as A* - the highest ranking possible. When the ARC stopped ranking journals,
the ABDC stepped in and re-ranked economics and business journals and
downgraded HOPE to just A, and as of this week it has now been downgraded to
a B. HOPE is now equally ranked with the History of Economics Review, which
is silly. Other B ranked journals are the JHET and EJHET. The highest
ranking any HET journal gets is a B. A number of other HET journals are
ranked C (lowest ranking).

These rankings play a significant role in recruitment and promotion and
access to funding.

In the latest ranking exercise, 3 well-know Australian historians of
economics (all of whom had authored one or more books in the field) put in
submissions to the ABDC advocating that HOPE be upgraded from an A to an A*.
They were ignored. There was one submission, from a Professor Elizabeth
Savage, who is a health economist, asking for HOPE to be downgraded from an
A to a C. That submission was seriously considered, although the ABDC
thought a downgrade to a C was too severe but accepted a "compromise" of a
downgrade to a B.

Savage also recommended that the Journal of Economic Issues go from an A to
B and that the Journal of Post Keynesian Economics go from an A to a B. Both
suggestions were accepted.

Another interesting twist was that the ABDC said:

"Another consideration was the stature of a journal within its field.
Generally, the panel viewed the #1 journal in a field as deserving of A*
status, even if the journal would not achieve this status by citation data
alone. For example, the Journal of Economic History is regarded as the top
journal in the important field of Economic History, and has significantly
more citations than any other journal in that field, but would not make the
top 50 based on citations alone. (Of course, a line must be drawn,
somewhere, concerning which fields are considered "important fields", and
the panel used its judgment on that issue.)"

Apparently economic history is an important field but the history of
economic thought is not.

Details are available at the Australian Business Dean's website
http://www.abdc.edu.au/29.115.0.0.1.0.htm
 
A summary of the ranking reasons is given at:
http://www.abdc.edu.au/download.php?id=1016520,1215,1 

According to the website:
"Until 30 September, interested parties can provide feedback,  on serious
anomalies or errors in the revised list. Please note that this exposure
period is not a forum for debating decisions. Disputing journal ratings on
grounds already reviewed by the expert panels will not  be considered. 
During this public exposure period, a minimum of two international experts
will simultaneously review each panel's work to externally validate the
final list."
 
If members of the list feel so moved as to object to HOPE's ranking, it
might be worth providing feedback on the website  link.

John 


John Lodewijks
Professor of Economics
University of Western Sydney
Parramatta Campus ED. G120
Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751
Australia
61-2-9685 9404
0414-017-346
www.johnlodewijks.com