The Economics of Scholarly Communication

The economics of scholarly communication involves the financial systems that support sharing academic research. Universities, governments, and publishers fund the creation, review, and dissemination of research findings. Traditionally, publishers charge subscription fees or per-article access, making valuable knowledge less accessible. Increasing costs, double-payments (authors pay to publish, libraries pay to access), and the shift toward open access challenge this model. The aim is to find sustainable ways to distribute research widely, balance costs, and ensure quality, fostering innovation and knowledge sharing without exclusivity or excessive expense.