Country-wise Retraction Analysis from 2022-2024. Increased Publishing Leading to Higher Retraction Rates.

This analysis looks at country-wise retraction and publication statistics. While not all retractions are due to research misconduct, many of them are. Retractions are thus a good signal of research misconduct. We notice strong geographic localization of countries with higher retraction rates: Arab Countries, China, and the Indian Subcontinent. We also look at the correlation between increased publishing in the countries in the last 5 years and the retraction rates. We find first evidence that higher publishing is leading to higher retraction rates. Urgent steps need to be taken to stop incentivizing quantity in science if one is to stem the scientific pollution.