I think research quality isn't the primary problem. Yes there are bad quality papers being published but it usually highly depends on the institution. The probl

I think research quality isn't the primary problem. Yes there are bad quality papers being published but it usually highly depends on the institution. The problem here really is unending demand for novelty. I find it weird that academia has a very high risk appetite for research that's "shiny and new" instead of focusing on reproducibility. They'd rather have a bunch of "new" topics which has flaws in their methodologies rather than verifying old ones which has a solid foundation but boring. The thing is, a lot of advisors are incentivized to do so especially in private universities where they can advertise these new papers just to entice more students to enroll with their exuberant tuition. I'm speaking from a first-hand experience in a private university whose image heavily depends on what "shiny and new" thing their students somehow invent. My university spends so much advertising those things and constantly raise prices at the same time, a shady business model. One of my business professors, who teach in the same institution, also subtly judge the ethics of these kinds of universities.