Publish or perish: 'extremely productive' researchers quadruple

The number of 'extremely productive' researchers, publishing over 60 papers a year, has surged up to four times compared to a decade ago, with the sharpest increase in Saudi Arabia and Thailand, according to a study posted on bioRxiv. The study, conducted by Stanford University physician John Ioannidis and colleagues, raises concerns about the potential for dubious practices and fraud. "The pressure to publish or perish may have grown stronger across several scientific fields", they said.

Most of the "extremely productive" authors were found in clinical medicine. Thailand's research funding system and focus on university rankings could be factors driving this trend. They suggest that artificial intelligence supports and reinforces this trend.