Co-authorship as a traded commodity: the experiences of early career education academics in Hong Kong, Canada and the UK

It is estimated that almost a half of all authors listed in co-authored papers do not satisfy widely adopted international guidelines with respect to legitimate co-authorship. In order to better understand the micro-politics of co-authorship, this study explores the publication patterns of early career academics (ECAs) working in selected research-intensive universities in Hong Kong, Canada and the UK. The results reveal that co-authorship is a traded commodity based on elite knowledge and professional networks involving practices that routinely contravene international ethical norms as stipulated by the Vancouver protocol. Four forms of unethical co-authorship are commonplace – power gifting, power ordering, crony gifting and crony ordering. While these practices embed a culture of misappropriation of authorship credit in academic life, they are widely regarded by ECAs as a normalised rite of passage. The trading culture of co-authorship also results in career benefits for ECAs, such as letters of recommendation and the expansion of academic networks, leading to further career and work opportunities. Correspondingly, when ECAs oppose unethical co-authorship practices, this can lead to adverse consequences for their academic career. It is recommended that universities and other research-based organisations develop a stronger focus on authorship ethics as part of research training for all academics and research students.