China published the second-largest amount of scientific papers from 2006 to 2010, according to Elsevier’s Scopus citation database, but its citation per article, which assesses the value and impact of papers, of 1.47 was the lowest of the major 20 publishing countries. Most citations of papers with Chinese lead authors were made by other Chinese researchers or by the authors themselves. A 2009 poll conducted by the China Association for Science and Technology indicated that a third of respondents believe the emphasis of quantity over quality is due to the use of published papers to assess academic performance. The market for ghostwriting academic papers is estimated at more than $100 million annually, according to a Wuhan University study. Though only 6% of China’s research is basic research, the International Monetary Fund ranks the country second in R&D spending, estimating its R&D expenditure at $150 billion based on purchasing power parity.

Source: Xihuanet.com