2009 Conference Archive

PRESENTATION C12

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ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE SCHOLARLY PUBLISHING MODELS: EXPLORING COSTS AND BENEFITS

John Houghton
Centre for Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC

Aims:

The aim of this JISC funded study1 is to inform policy discussion and enable stakeholders to better understand the institutional, budgetary and wider economic implications of three of the major emerging models of scholarly publication (i.e. subscription publishing, open access publishing and self-archiving), and enable them to respond to opportunities and challenges. The study seeks to build upon and extend recent work on the costs and benefits associated with alternative scholarly communication models (Houghton et al. 2006)2 and respond to some of the gaps and challenges identified in the recent UK Scholarly Journals Baseline Report3.

Methods:

The study involves two major project elements. Phase I seeks to describe the three models of scholarly communication, identify all the possible dimensions of cost and benefit for each model, and examine how the main players in scholarly communication would be affected by each of the costs and benefits noted. Phase II seeks, where possible, to quantify the costs and benefits of the three models identified. Key elements of the approach include:

• The adoption of a systems perspective and use of a formal IDEF0 process modelling approach;
• The use of a matrix approach to activity costing (based on the process modelling), to enable the costing of activities, objects, functions and applications, and to cost any or all of these for actors;
• Combining "bottom up" and "top down" approaches to exploring impacts and benefits, including scenario development and contingent valuation, and the use of a modified Solow-Swan model to explore the overall impacts of accessibility and efficiency on returns to R&D; and
• The use of expert review and consultation to fill information gaps and, where necessary, provide the basis for estimation.

While wide-ranging in scope, one important focus of this work is on the implications of the three models for UK universities and for journal publishing.

Results and Conclusion:

At this stage results are incomplete. The study will be completed in October 2008.

1. See http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/programme_rep_pres/EconomicsScholarlyPublishing.aspx
2. Houghton, J.W. Steele, C. & Sheehan, P.J. (2006) Research Communication Costs in Australia, Emerging Opportunities and Benefits, Department of Education, Science and Training, Canberra.
3. EPS, et al. (2006) UK scholarly journals: 2006 baseline report - An evidence-based analysis of data concerning scholarly journal publishing, Research Information Network, Research Councils UK and Department of Trade and Industry.