A Bibliometric Note on Isserman’s Panegyric Statistics

Abstract

As a rule, in anniversary celebrations, papers and the related statistics are presented in a positive perspective and even mild self-critical assessment is usually minimized. The 50th anniversary of Regional Science Association International (RSAI) was not an exception to this the rule. Andy Isserman in his Paper in Regional Science (PiRS) article (2004) for the anniversary of RSAI presented panegyric statistics for the history of RSAI related publications. In this context I have reviewed the presentation of Isserman’s assessment of the impact of RSAI research as reflected in the citation data. As a first assessment this which could lead one to draw misleading conclusions about the current state and the history of RSAI publications and their impact.