This two-part series from Freakonomics Radio delves into the alarming issue of fraud in academic research. In the second part, the focus shifts to the industry's framework, exposing misconduct within universities and journals, including the troubling rise of "paper mills" that sell authorship and fake journals. The podcast features insights from experts like Ivan Oransky of Retraction Watch, who estimates that around 2% of academic papers should be retracted due to fraud or serious errors—significantly higher than the current retraction rate of just 0.1%. The episode also discusses potential reforms, such as pre-registering studies and enhancing peer review processes, both aimed at boosting transparency and curbing fraudulent research.
