The author has no idea about research and life as a PhD student. Firstly, a PhD is just not a "degree". It requires a great deal of tenacity, perseverance and intellect. PhD it self stands for Doctor of Philosophy, implying that its more about the journey or the philosophy of research than the research itself. At the end of the work, the training and skill set that the person has acquired is more important than what the outcome was. As such it is deplorable if the person is judged on the basis of how many papers he has published than what was the quality of the research work. Thats why a PhD is "awarded" on the recommendation of the guide and not after fulfilling a certain paper requirement or number of years of work. Secondly, most PhD's either continue in academics or industrial research after obtaining the degree and any further mobility is based on the previous years' track record of the candidate. So the work that the PhD has been doing post-degree will be the grounds on which he'll be judged and meritocracy is self-evident to someone who knows the area well. Lastly, the skills that you acquire in the process of research are life-long and you cannot put an expiration date on them. How you better yourself by keeping abreast with the latest developments is upto that person, it cannot be enforced. It is something that they will have do to survive in the field.
