Preprint: The World's Approach towards Publishing in Springer and Elsevier's APC-Funded Open Access Journals | College & Research Libraries

The final version of this article is scheduled for final publication in the March 2018 issue of C&RL. 

Abstract

Purpose: The present study explored tendencies of the world's countries‐ at individual and scientific development levels‐ towards publishing in APC‐funded open access journals.

Design/methodology/approach: Using a bibliometric method, it studied OA and NOA articles issued in Springer and Elsevier’s APC journals during 2007‐2011. The data were gathered using a wide number of sources including Sherpa/Romeo, Springer Author‐mapper, Science Direct, Google and journals websites.

Findings: The Netherlands, Norway and Poland ranked highest in terms of their OA shares. This can be attributed to the financial resources allocated to publication in general, and publishing in OA journals, in particular, by the countries. All developed countries and a large number of scientifically lagging and developing nations were found to publish OA articles in the APC journals. The OA papers have been exponentially growing across all the country scientific groups annually. Although the advanced nations published the lion share of the OA‐APC papers and exhibited the highest growth, the under‐development groups have been displaying high OA growth rates.

Practical implications: Given the reliance of the APC model on authors’ affluence and motivation, its affordability and sustainability have been challenged. This communication helps understand how countries at different scientific development and thus wealth levels contribute to the model.

Originality/value: This is the first study conducted at macro level clarifying countries’ contribution to the APC model – at individual and scientific‐development levels‐ as the ultimate resultant of the interaction between authors’ willingness, the model affordability and publishers and funding agencies’ supportive.