For most, credentialism works fine in academia. The problem is that you're incentivized to cheat, because it's either that or your career. Academia suffers fr

For most, credentialism works fine in academia. The problem is that you're incentivized to cheat, because it's either that or your career. Academia suffers from incredible power asymmetry, and an obsession with prestige. It's shit culture that rots from the head and down. Of course, the vast majority of research groups are not like that - but it seems to be a problem which has always been there, but just been swept under the rug. Again, it's difficult to find informants. Groups are small, and most advisors have very few people under their wing. It is probably very easy to identify and black-ball whistleblowers. It gets more difficult, the more you're invested in your work/degree.