RE: Leaving the Emerald City

["Hamaker, Chuck" <cahamake@email.uncc.edu>]

I was a bit puzzled by the comment in Dr. Steuer's letter: "In 
particular, the current price of =A36,000 plus vat for six copies 
is far out of line."

Is this just a reference to AU $6,000 per subscription or 
implying that only 6 subscriptions are being sold? I'm confused 
Thanks


Chuck Hamaker
Associate University Librarian Collections and Technical Services
Atkins Library
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Charlotte, NC 28223
phone 704 687-2825

-----Original Message-----
[mailto:owner-liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Joseph J.
Esposito
Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 6:28 PM
To: liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
Subject: Re: Leaving the Emerald City

I know nothing about Emerald Press beyond what appeared in Ted 
Bergstom's post and the earlier thread initiated by Phil Davis, 
so my questions are put in the abstract:  Does anyone know if the 
Journal of Economic Studies is profitable?  Is the reputed high 
price a function of a small customer base (few sales over which 
to amortize costs)?  Would a lower price bring in many more 
customers, allowing for broader amortization and, theoretically, 
a lower price?

Of course, it is entirely possible that this is an instance of 
price-gouging pure and simple, but in the absence of the answers 
to my questions above, I don't see how anyone can know if the 
price is in or out of bounds.

Joe Esposito

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ted Bergstrom" <tedb@econ.ucsb.edu>
To: <liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu>
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 5:11 PM
Subject: Leaving the Emerald City

> Max Steuer, a respected English economist has recently resigned
> as editor of the Journal of Economic Studies, which is
> published by Emerald Press. This journal and its sister
> publication the International Journal of Social Economics, are
> the most expensive journals in economics. These journals are
> highly obscure and not even included in the ISI social science
> citation list, yet each costs about 3 times as much as the next
> most expensive economics journal.
>
> Professor Steuer, who has been editor for about a year, had not
> paid attention to "the business end of the journal" when he
> agreed to be editor. When he was informed of the JES pricing
> policy and of Phil Davis's discoveries of Emerald's article
> republication practices, he asked for an audience with the
> publisher. Emerald was not able to give him a satisfactory
> explanation for its practices and he resigned.
>
> In his letter, Professor Steuer says that
>
>     "I resigned from editing the Journal of Economic Studies on 6
>     January 2006. Shortly before that date, it was suggested to me
>     that the financial policy of the journal is inconsistent
>     with the culture and practices of the academic community.
>     It was careless of me not to look into this before taking
>     on the job. I simply assumed that the fees charged and
>     other aspects of policy were roughly in line with academic
>     conventions. This turns out not to be the case."
>
> Professor Steuer has given me permission to distribute his
> letter as I like. I attach a copy of the full text below. You
> can find some more information about Emerald's practices at the
> following location.
> http://www.econ.ucsb.edu/%7Etedb/Journals/emeraldroad.html
>
> Cheers,
> Ted
>
> Here is the text of Professor Steuer's letter.
>
> ********
>
> 15 February 2006
>
> You may want to know that I resigned from editing the Journal
> of Economic Studies on 6 January 2006. Shortly before that date
> it was suggested to me that the financial policy of the journal
> is inconsistent with the culture and practices of the academic
> community. It was careless of me not to look into this before
> taking on the job. I simply assumed that the fees charged and
> other aspects of policy were roughly in line with academic
> conventions. This turns out not to be the case.
>
> On the 6th of January I met with a representative of Emerald
> Publications to discuss the position. I wanted to be sure of
> the position, and if possible to affect a change in policy. It
> was clear that the pricing policy was and is very different
> from that of many well-known economic s journals. In
> particular, the current price of =A36,000 plus vat for six
> copies is far out of line. It was also clear from our
> discussion that no change in policy was to be forthcoming. As
> we know, the contributors and referees of academic journals are
> on the whole not paid and regard taking on work, particularly
> refereeing, as part of being members of a scholarly community.
> I feel badly at having asked many people to devote time to the
> journal. Incidentally, any pending communications should be
> sent to Simon Linacre at Slinacre@emeraldinsight.com - and not
> to me.
>
> The policy of the Journal of Economic Studies is not determined
> by the Board of the journal, but by the owners. It could be
> argued that if authors wish to contribute, referees are prepared
> to act, an editor can be found for a nominal fee, the profits and
> long-run prospects of the journal are of no concern. To make that
> argument, at a minimum it is essential that the participants in
> the journal's activities are aware of the policy, and are not
> encouraged to assume that it is run in a manner consistent with
> academic conventions and culture. Whether many institutions would
> subscribe, or scholars would like to submit papers, or undertake
> other work for the journal under conditions of full disclosure,
> will probably never be tested. The journal official was open with
> consider their positions.
>
> I am sorry that I cannot write individually to the many
> authors, Board members, referees and colleagues who have helped
> me over the past year. The experience leaves a bitter taste,
> but contains a number of gratifying memories.
>
> Max Steuer