1. Björk 2006 1 The economics of open access publishing Bo-Christer Björk UNICA seminar Helsinki 19.5.2006

2. Björk 2006 2 Effects of Internet Distribution is going electronic Also distribution models are changing

3. Björk 2006 3

4. 4 Where to draw the line? Which process Using what business model What type of cost Is cost equal to price? Cost incurred by whom?

5. Björk 2006 5 Which process

6. Björk 2006 6 Using what business model

7. Björk 2006 7 What type of cost First copy cost Distribution costs Overhead costs of publisher Time costs of readers Opportunity costs

8. Björk 2006 8 is cost equal to price? Publisher revenue = cost + profit In the short run yes In the long run more competition could lower costs Example mobile telephone bills

9. Björk 2006 9 Cost incurred by whom Cost of publisher Cost of readers Overhead cost of libraries Cost of reviewers time

10. Björk 2006 10 Getting the numbers right Number of titles Number of articles Share electronic OA journals share OA articles share OA copies in repositories, web pages etc. 25000 – 50000 1, 5 – 2 million > 50 % 4-5 % 1-2 % 15-20 %

11. Björk 2006 11 Comparative effects of different business models ReviewingPubli- cation Indexing& Library services UsagePreser- vation Impact on research Direct Impact on industry Paper======= Electronic=? Repository Open Access =? Journal Open Access =? Life-cycle costs of current readership level Benefits from increased readership OA

12. Björk 2006 12 The free rider problem Has been proposed as argument against author charges Some research intensive institutes might end up paying more than currently Lesser institutes and industry would get a free rid

13. Björk 2006 13 But! The argument can be turned around Only a small proportion of subscription money comes from the free riders anyway It would be socially beneficial if these parties would start to use research results more

14. Björk 2006 14 ”Level playing field” Individual article JournalJournal collection Readers buying access AuthorPay-per viewPersonal subscription UniversityInstitutional subscription ”Big deal” Research Funder National levelConsortial big deal Authors buying OA provision AuthorAuthor charge UniversityInstitutional membership Research Funder”Wellcome Trust” National levelFinELib & Biomed Central deal

15. Björk 2006 15 REFERENCES For a number of publications see Homepages of the OACS project http://www.oacs.shh.fi/publications.html