The Strong Get Stronger: The Matthew Effect in Academic Publishing

"These [four] measures would not eliminate inequality, but they would slow its cumulative acceleration and maintain pluralism in how science is produced and shared.

The current asymmetry of academic publishing is not a natural byproduct of excellence. It is a behavioural and institutional construct. Addressing it demands collective responsibility across the research ecosystem. Sustaining independent, open-access journals is not an act of charity, it is an investment in the resilience of global science.

Without deliberate correction, the Matthew Effect will continue to widen disparities. The strong will grow stronger, while voices outside dominant networks will fade. Recognising and mitigating this dynamic is essential not only for fairness but for the intellectual integrity of science itself."