Submission from the Association for Heterodox Economics to the international benchmarking review on research assessment

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to make a submission to the UK's Economic and Social Research Council as part of its international benchmarking review of economics.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of a discussion of the health of economics in the UK from the perspective of heterodox or pluralist economists who are members of the Association for Heterodox Economics.

Findings

Research assessment based on peer review is damaging economics in the UK because, as currently conducted, it does not promote pluralism. This will lead to a monolithic discipline that will reject new and controversial ideas and arguments.

Practical implications

The current research assessment and subject benchmarking approaches must be completely changed so as to promote pluralism.

Originality/value

This is the first document by a heterodox economics association to challenge the research assessment and subject benchmarking conventions in the UK and also in Europe.

Citation

Freeman, A. (2008), "Submission from the Association for Heterodox Economics to the international benchmarking review on research assessment", On the Horizon, Vol. 16 No. 4, pp. 279-285. https://doi.org/10.1108/10748120810912592