Influence and the Referee Process.

This study examines the influence the referee process has on the development of economic thought. It examines the practices, principles, theories, and methodology involved in the referee process and the development of economic thought. It finds that the complaints against it are difficult, if not impossible, to measure. It identifies a central problem with the referee process, the use of citations to measure both influence and quality. It concludes with a proposal for a different and broader citation index and a call to change the dependence of many decisions on the use of citations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]