The self-similar science system

Abstract

A system with a self-similar property is scale-independent and statistically exhibits that property at all levels of observation. In addition, a power law describes the distribution of a scale-independent property. Many investigators have observed social activities and structures, particularly in the science system, that are best described by a power-law distribution. However, unlike classical physical power laws that are used in the design of complex technical systems, social power laws are not used to develop social policy. Using the science system as a model social system and peer-reviewed publications and citations to these papers as the data source we will demonstrate the existence of two power law distributions that are then used to predict the existence of two additional power laws. In fact, it will be shown that in four UK sectoral, six OECD national, a regional and the world science systems the Matthew effect can be described by a power-law relationship between publishing size (papers) and recognition (citations). The exponent of this power law is 1.27±0.03, it is constant over time and relatively independent of system size and nationality. The policy implications of these robust self-similar social properties as well as the need to develop scale-independent policy are discussed.