> "I am trying to suggest that academics are deliberately trying to game the system" Did you mean "I am not trying to suggest..."? Otherwise I'm confused. In

> "I am trying to suggest that academics are deliberately trying to game the system" Did you mean "I am not trying to suggest..."? Otherwise I'm confused. In general, I don't think it's helpful to think of things like this from a purely rational, game-theoretic perspective. As you mention, humans are not rational & there isn't perfect information. Also, it involves too many assumptions about what might drive people (eg it's not just about publication lists).