Is Romania’s surge in MDPI publications a success story? A response to Nazarovets (2024)

Nazarovets suggests that Romania’s research reforms have had a beneficial effect by pruning out lower-quality scientific output and encouraging the production of fewer but more impactful contributions. This response, however, contends that the shift from conference proceedings to MDPI journals reflects a positive development only under a limited definition of impact. From a broader perspective, the high concentration of Romanian articles in MDPI journals, the publisher's controversial practices, and their insular citation patterns raise concerns about the qualitative success of these reforms. Additionally, the financial incentives tied to publishing through article processing charges may prioritize volume over quality, potentially undermining the long-term integrity of Romania's scientific landscape.