The publication reproduces the debate that took place in the Central Economics and Ьathematics Institute (CEMI RAS) in the framework of the discussion club under the leadership of V. L. Makarov – "Makarov gatherings". The discussion was devoted to problems of development and practical use of the results of scientometrics. Еhe main discussants were Dr. of physical and mathematical sciences Levon Beklaryan and doctor of economic sciences Denis Davydov. During the discussion, participants raised questions of the relations of scientific experts and bureaucracy, formation of scientific reputations, patterns of publication activity, communication science and education, the hierarchy of modern societies, the possibility of creating a non-manipulable system for assessing the quality of research. Despite the difference of judgment expressed by the panelists came to a consensus that the root of the problem lies not as a separate scientometric indicators and their application. Important is understanding of the fact that the bureaucracy, as a rule, not fully aware of the meaning and limitations of the used evaluation methods scientific research, as the persons concerned consciously implement the appropriate methods in order to build pseudoenergy and redistribution in their favor of cash flows.