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Open Access, Economic Barriers, and Possible Solutions

In their presentation Nguyen et al. (2024) explore the challenges and implications of restricted access to scientific knowledge, particularly focusing on the role of commercial publishers such as Elsevier. This review explores the implications of that from different perspectives.

Social Perspective

The presentation highlights the social implications of restricted access to scientific knowledge. It argues that when science is made inaccessible, it not only affects individual researchers but also society as a whole. The high costs associated with publishing in top-tier journals create barriers for academics from impoverished backgrounds, leading to a lack of diverse voices in scientific discourse. This exclusion perpetuates social inequalities and limits the potential for innovative solutions to global challenges (Vuong, 2019).

Cultural Perspective

Culturally, the presentation discusses the phenomenon of “groupthink” in academia, where researchers tend to publish in high-impact journals due to the pressure of academic metrics and university rankings. This culture of “publish or perish” leads to a homogenization of research topics, as academics focus on popular areas rather than exploring diverse and potentially groundbreaking fields (Mintz & Wayne, 2016). The cultural emphasis on high-impact publications reinforces the dominance of established narratives and stifles intellectual diversity.

Economic Perspective

Economically, the paper critiques the business model of commercial publishers like Elsevier, which charge high article processing charges (APCs) and subscription fees. These costs create significant financial barriers for researchers, particularly those from low- and middle-income countries. The presentation suggests that the current system prioritizes profit over the dissemination of knowledge, leading to a commodification of scientific research (Eger & Scheufen, 2021). The proposed solution involves negotiating transformative open access contracts to reduce costs and increase accessibility.

Political Perspective

Politically, the presentation addresses the power dynamics in academic publishing. It argues that commercial publishers hold a monopoly over scientific knowledge, which they exploit through opaque processes and high fees. This monopolistic control limits the ability of researchers to freely disseminate their work and undermines the principles of open science. The paper advocates for a decentralized, blockchain-based system to democratize access to scientific knowledge and reduce the influence of commercial publishers (Ruj et al., 2014).

Conclusion

The presentation provides a comprehensive analysis of the barriers to accessing scientific knowledge and proposes a community-driven solution to promote open access. By addressing the social, cultural, economic, and political dimensions of the issue, it highlights the need for systemic change to ensure that science is accessible to all.

References

Eger, T., & Scheufen, M. (2021). Economic perspectives on the future of academic publishing: Introduction to the special issue. Managerial and Decision Economics, 42, 1922-1932. https://doi.org/10.1002/mde.3454

Mintz, A., & Wayne, C. (2016). The Polythink Syndrome and Elite Group Decision-Making. Supplement: Advances in Political Psychology, 37(1), 3-21. https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12319

Nguyen, Anh and Le, Anh and Dao, Vy and Nguyen, Linh and Ky, Thy, The Existing Inaccessibility of Science in Neoliberal Academia (March 24, 2024). In BUSM2301 at RMIT University Vietnam – High Distinction, Course Highest , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4840029 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4840029

Ruj, S., Stojmenovic, M., & Nayak, A. (2014). Decentralized Access Control with Anonymous Authentication of Data Stored in Clouds. IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems, 25(2), 384-394. https://doi.org/10.1109/TPDS.2013.38

Vuong, Q. (2019). The harsh world of publishing in emerging regions and implications for editors and publishers: The case of Vietnam. Learned Publishing, 32(4), 314-324. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1255

[Edited by Pablo Markin. The initial draft has been generated using Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft (February 11, 2025).]


OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
Pablo Markin (February 11, 2025). Open Access, Economic Barriers, and Possible Solutions. Open Access Blog. Retrieved March 24, 2025 from https://doi.org/10.58079/13ami


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