Abstract

Objective. This study analyzed the retraction of scientific articles in business, management, and accounting between 2000 and 2023. Methodology. The Retraction Watch database was utilized as a source, and 365 formally retracted documents were selected for analysis. A comprehensive examination of the variables was conducted, encompassing the publication and retraction dates, author affiliation, country of publication, rationale for retraction, and journal quartile.. Results. The findings indicated a persistent increase in retractions, with substantial spikes commencing in 2012, concomitant with enhanced ethical and methodological oversight. China and the United States led in absolute numbers of retractions; however, some countries exhibited high proportions relative to their total output. The analysis of co-authorships revealed clusters of researchers with multiple retractions, evidencing specific patterns of misconduct. The predominant cause of retraction was scientific misconduct (72.6%), surpassing unintentional and editorial errors. The prevalence of retracted articles in high-impact journals (Q1 and Q2) was also notable, indicating that malpractice transcended the quality of the publication. Conclusions. The study’s findings indicated that substandard academic practices were not confined to the academic sphere. Rather, their ramifications could propagate beyond this domain, exerting influence on economic, social, and political decision-making processes. This evidence underscored the necessity of fortifying academic integrity and transparency within the review and publication processes. © 2025 The author(s).