There are two kinds of papers: one is graduation thesis. No matter undergraduates, junior college students, master students and doctoral students, they must write their graduation thesis before graduation and pass the defense after finishing it. Otherwise you can't graduate.
The other is a paper published in a newspaper or read at an academic conference. This kind of paper can make people get a contribution fee, or a reward, or a promotion, and so on.
I hope my introduction is helpful to you.