Reed Elsevier Higher Journal Price Increases

Proof That Commercial Model for Academic Publishing is Broken

While not in the least surprising (their other commercial units are hurting), Elsevier's recent price increase announcements highlight another reason why the commercial model of academic publishing is broken. Many institutions (particularly the big ones) are laying off staff and cutting costs, so you would think the Elsevier's of the world would catch on. Unfortunately that doesn't mean they will. When the bottom line is your shareholder, rather than the academic institutions you serve, not to mention society at large, academic integrity will suffer in the end. This is one key area where I disagree with the big publishers, who always argue that their model ensures quality and academic integrity: small publishers and non-profits are holding pricing and innovating in this economic downturn, so why can't the behemoths?

Scraped from Archivaria

Comments

[Dorothea Salo]

Elsevier is testing the waters. If libraries tamely roll over and accept the price jump, Elsevier knows it has the upper hand.