Instances of Scientific Misconduct | Almas Heshmati

Almas Heshmati

Almas Heshmati, an economist at Jönköping University in Sweden, co-authored a paper titled “Green Innovations and Patents in OECD Countries” that was later retracted for undisclosed data manipulations. The study claimed to use a “balanced panel” dataset with no missing values, but a PhD student discovered large gaps in the underlying data. It was later revealed that Heshmati had used Excel’s autofill function to fabricate thousands of data points, sometimes copying information from other countries, to fill those gaps without disclosure. This process, known as imputation, is acceptable only when transparently reported. The Journal of Cleaner Production retracted the paper, citing “questionable methods” and Heshmati’s case now stands as an example of how hidden data fabrication undermines integrity and transparency.

Data Can Appear in Science Journals — Out of Thin Air (Science and Culture Today, February 24, 2024)

Exclusive: Elsevier to retract paper by economist who failed to disclose data tinkering (Retraction Watch, February 22, 2024)

Green innovations and patents in OECD countries  (PubPeer, February 2024)   

How (not) to deal with missing data: An economist’s take on a controversial study (Retraction Watch, February 21, 2024)

​Journal pulls paper by economist who failed to disclose data tinkering (Retraction Watch, May 10, 2024)

No data? No problem! Undisclosed tinkering in Excel behind economics paper (Retraction Watch, February 5, 2024)

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Green innovations and patenting renewable energy technologies (SpringerNature, November 23, 2020) 

RETRACTED: Green innovations and patents in OECD countries (Journal of Cleaner Production, July 14, 2023)

Retracted Paper Is a Compelling Case for Reform (Mind Matters, February 23, 2024)