Pure math has a far greater vulnerability to this than applied math. Top journals have impact factors of around 5.0. Respectable but tiny specialist journals can have impact factors less than 1.0 (like, 0.4). Meanwhile, MDPI Mathematics is a Q1 journal with an impact factor over 2.0.
replyThe now-standard bibliometrics were not designed by statisticians :-)
The key is that mathematicians in the US and most parts of Europe do not count citations. So this is not really an issue.
replyIt is an issue if a mathematician has to apply for grants. Often they are in the same competition as physicists, for instance, and then metrics do matter.
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