Is open access disrupting the journal business? A perspective from comparing full adopters, partial adopters, and non-adopters
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Two decades after the advent of open access publishing (OA), its influence has been a focal point of discussions. The study borrows the concept of disruptive innovation from Schumpeter and examine whether OA belongs to one. It compares the market power of gold journals (OA full adopters) with that of hybrid journals and closed-access journals associated with big publishers (established partial adopters and non-adopters). Additionally, it also contrasts the market power between hybrid journals (partial adopters) and closed-access journals of big publishers (established non-adopters). Following the Lerner index, market power is calculated based on price elasticity of demand. Difference tests and regressions are employed. The findings suggest that OA full adopters disrupt the market power of the non-adopting incumbents. However, by incorporating the OA option into their business model, partial adopters successfully navigate this disruption and extend their influence from traditional subscription market into the new OA paradigm.
Source: Journal of Informetrics
Author: Xijie Zhang
Language: English
Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,680
OpenAlex ID: W4401833324