[octopod12]

the title can be restated as "outcomes are produced by incentives" and applies to anything including: college admissions, climbing the corporate ladder etc. any system is gamed by its participants, and so, the system design is critical to ensure whatever the system wants to sustain.

the design of disincentives (or punishments) is harder - coz you cannot jail a scientist for poor me-too publications, or papers that self-claim "an innovative approach to this or that"

Just as in corporate orgs, or societies, the culture that is fostered plays a critical role. Once rot takes over, it is hard to eradicate.