[the_french]

Part of that pressure comes from the lack of funding though. When you have to fight against 100 other applications for a grant showing you have a recent track record of well-cited papers helps you stand out.

If researchers had steadier access to funding there would be less pressure to constantly publish 'breakthroughs' to secure next years funding.

[kortilla]

Publish or perish applies to tenure, not funding so much.