When hiring committees start (at least partly) measuring the quality of academics by a single number, it is in the interests of academics to maximise that numbe

When hiring committees start (at least partly) measuring the quality of academics by a single number, it is in the interests of academics to maximise that number. Some take it too far in serious misconduct, others will undertake 'tit-for-tat' referencing with friends, who previously they might have referenced slightly less. When google h-index's measure takes self-citations into account, it is very tempting to cite one's own papers, particularly those which are "on the cusp" of increasing one's own h-index.