Popularity plays a role.  Here&#x27;s a real life example:  One of my quantum physics mentors submitted a paper to PRL (a high prestige physics journal) and it was rejected.  Why?  Because it came from a small, rather unknown university in Spain.<p>He was later admitted to Cambridge for a PhD and sent the exact same paper (same formatting, content, layout but different department&#x2F;uni). It was immediately accepted.  Does it necessarily mean that scientists in poorer countries are doing bad science? Or just that they didn&#x27;t get their visa &#x2F; couldn&#x27;t leave their country &#x2F; just want to stay there, etc.<p>The first filter most editors use is:  &quot;Do I know this research group? Are they part of the club? Have they published in top journals?&quot;.  If not, it won&#x27;t get read (unless it&#x27;s a compelling and exciting title and abstract).