RE: Do governments subsidize journals (was: Who gets hurt by Open

["David Prosser" <david.prosser@bodley.ox.ac.uk>]

Sally

Two interesting figures quoted recently suggest this is not the case.

You quoted Don King's research that suggested that 25% of papers come from
authors in industry.

Tony McSean, from Elsevier, tells us (on another list) that 25% of
Elsevier's revenue comes from industry.

If we move to a financial model that receives revenue at the input stage,
and if industry does author 25% of papers as Professor King suggests, then
industry will account for 25% of revenues - exactly matching the
proportion received from industry by Elsevier at the moment.  So, no 'free
rider' problem, no shift in balance, and no transfer of costs to the tax
payer.

(Of course some publishers receive more from industry and some less -
until we get better figures let's take Elsevier's 25% as an average.)

David

-----Original Message-----
[mailto:owner-liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Sally Morris
(ALPSP)
Sent: 18 September 2005 17:10
To: liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
Subject: Re: Do governments subsidize journals (was: Who gets hurt by
Open

The point is that the balance will shift.  More of the cost will have to
be borne by the academic community (and thus, ultimately, the taxpayer)

Sally Morris, Chief Executive
Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers
Email:  sally.morris@alpsp.org

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Prosser" <david.prosser@bodley.ox.ac.uk>
To: <liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu>
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 11:34 PM
Subject: RE: Do governments subsidize journals (was: Who gets hurt by
Open

> While we all have the mantra 'industry reads more than it publishers'
> drummed into us, industry does publish and so some revenue will come
> directly from industry.  There will also be indirect income -
> universities are increasingly accepting industrial funding for research
> projects conducted within the university.  Publication costs could
> easily be included in the costs that the university charges, so
> lightening the load on the poor taxpayer.
>
> (And, of course, while there may be some subject areas where a large
> minority of the revenue comes from industry, there are others where the
> proportion is almost zero.)
>
> David