Multiple studies have documented that editorial boards of major international journals are dominated by editors from a handful of Northern countries, particularly the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and other Western European nations. This concentration shapes what counts as relevant research, which manuscripts get reviewed seriously, and which methods and findings are prioritised. Knowledge-equity reform asks journals and funders to publish geographic-diversity statistics, set targets for editorial-board representation, and recruit editors and reviewers actively across regions.
References
- Espin J et al. 'A persistent lack of international representation on editorial boards' PLOS Biology 2017. Murray D et al. 'Author-reviewer homophily in peer review' bioRxiv 2018.