Scholarly Comments on Academic Economics

Why Has Critical Commentary Been Curtailed at Top Economics Journals? A Reply to Robert Whaples

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*Philip R. P. Coelho* is of professor of economics at Ball State University. He has published in The _American Economic Review, The Journal of Economic History, The Southern Economic Journal, Economic Inquiry_ and other journals. Current research interest
*James E. McClure* (Ph.D., Purdue University, 1983) is Professor of Economics at Ball State University, where his research focus is microeconomics. His publications appear in journals such as: _Economic Inquiry, Econ Journal Watch, Journal of Economic Beh

Abstract

IN OUR ARTICLE WITH FREDERICK DE WORKEN-ELEY III IN THE April 2005 issue of this Journal, we documented the decline in critical commentary (i.e., comments, replies, rejoinders) that occurred between 1963 and 2004 in the top general interest journals in economics. Explaining the decline was not our focus, although we lamented the decline because it makes the journals less valuable as forums for discussion.