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Open access for degrowth: a literature review on the economic, social, and environmental impact of journal models

Author

Listed:
  • Claudio Vitari

    (CERGAM - Centre d'Études et de Recherche en Gestion d'Aix-Marseille - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - UTLN - Université de Toulon)

  • Zakaria Laala

    (CERGAM - Centre d'Études et de Recherche en Gestion d'Aix-Marseille - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - UTLN - Université de Toulon)

Abstract

The traditional model of academic publishing, characterized by paid subscriptions, has historically restricted access to research findings, posing barriers for researchers and institutions with limited resources (Suber, 2012). In response, the open access (OA) movement has gained momentum, advocating for free and unrestricted access to scholarly literature online, thereby promoting transparency and equitable knowledge dissemination (Suber, 2012). This literature review examines the economic, social, and environmental impacts of various OA journal models, encompassing gold, green, hybrid, and emerging diamond routes. The economic impact of OA models, including cost structures and funding mechanisms such as Article Processing Charges (APCs), is analyzed to understand their implications for publishers, authors, and institutions (Björk et al., 2017; Morrison, 2017). Socially, OA fosters inclusivity by removing financial barriers and enhancing global scientific collaboration, thus democratizing access to knowledge (Houghton & Swan, 2011; Hilton III, 2016). However, the environmental footprint of OA remains underexplored, with emerging concerns over digital sustainability and carbon emissions associated with online publishing (Bouffard et al., 2022). Methodologically, this review synthesizes findings from 20 selected articles using systematic search queries and inclusion criteria based on economic, social, and ecological dimensions (Van Ooijen et al., 2023). By employing a comprehensive framework, we assess the state of knowledge regarding OA impacts and propose future research directions to optimize its benefits while mitigating potential drawbacks. Ultimately, this review underscores the transformative potential of OA in reshaping scholarly communication and calls for continued empirical research to inform evidence-based policy and practice in academic publishing.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudio Vitari & Zakaria Laala, 2024. "Open access for degrowth: a literature review on the economic, social, and environmental impact of journal models," Post-Print hal-04633659, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04633659
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-04633659
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:bla:jamist:v:63:y:2012:i:8:p:1485-1495 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Abdelghani Maddi & David Sapinho, 2022. "Article processing charges, altmetrics and citation impact: Is there an economic rationale?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(12), pages 7351-7368, December.
    3. David J. Solomon & Bo-Christer Björk, 2012. "A study of open access journals using article processing charges," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 63(8), pages 1485-1495, August.
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    Keywords

    Open access peer-reviewed articles publishing models degrowth; Open access; peer-reviewed articles; publishing models; degrowth;
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