Representation of Academics from Developing Countries as Authors and Editorial Board Members in Scientific Journals: Does this Matter to the Field of Development Studies?

Abstract

Patterns of publication in the field of development studies are examined, based on analysis of the affiliations of authors and editorial board members for a sample of 10 ‘well-known’ (Sumner and Tribe, 2009, p. 32) academic journals. Data were collected from the Web of Science (WoS) database for the period 2012–2014 and from journal websites. Some 43 per cent of the authors of the 2112 articles in the sample are located in the USA and UK, 43 per cent are from other developed countries, while only 14 per cent are from authors in developing countries. Of the 329 editorial board members, 62 per cent are located in the UK and the USA, 31 per cent are from other developed countries, while only 9 per cent are located in developing countries. From the perspectives of equity, responsibility and diversity, and in recognition of the endogenous nature of the development process, the field of development studies should make efforts to address this underrepresentation of academics from developing countries as authors and editorial board members.