The use and abuse of journal quality lists

The ABS list is one of the most widely used journal quality lists available. It is pluralistic and comprehensive, and is widely seen as capturing the consensus in relation to journal ratings. As editors of the ABS list we are concerned at recent calls for a moratorium, or even the abolition of journal quality lists. These calls reinforce the elitist view that the tacit knowledge of where to publish should not be made explicit in lists. Keywords journal ranking, peer review, performativity, research audits In the current debate about journal quality lists it is generally acknowledged that the Association of Business Schools Academic Journal Quality Guide (Harvey et al., 2010), known as the ABS list, is the most widely used of the various lists available. The utility of the ABS list is confirmed by the 90,000 unique downloads from the ABS website during the last year, from nearly 100 countries. As editors of the ABS list we welcome scrutiny and debate. It is further evidence of our success and service to th