Ruled by the bottom line

If the Arts and Humanities Research Council will no longer support monographs ("AHRC to rethink project funding", 1 May), it might as well change its name to the Arts and Humanities Research Cull. Any humanities scholar could provide a list of monographs that changed things, but who would ever say the same of a large-scale collaborative project? If we sit back and allow "economic impact" to be the main criterion, moreover, we consent to being governed by a bunch of bankers.

Neil Badmington, Cardiff

PS: I hereby volunteer to participate in Steve Fuller's Grumpy Old Academics (Letters, 1 May).