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Can I afford to publish? A dilemma for African scholars
Author(s) -
Mekonnen Addisu,
Downs Colleen,
Effiom Edu O.,
Kibaja Mohamed,
Lawes Michael J.,
Omeja Patrick,
Ratsoavina Fanomezana M.,
Razafindratsima Onja,
Sarkar Dipto,
Stenseth Nils Chr.,
Chapman Colin A.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.13949
Subject(s) - publishing , publication , dilemma , open access publishing , payment , political science , business , public relations , library science , computer science , law , finance , philosophy , epistemology
With open‐access publishing authors often pay an article processing charge and subsequently their article is freely available online. These charges are beyond the reach of most African academics. Thus, the trend towards open‐access publishing will shift the business model from a pay‐wall model, where access to literature is limited, to a pay‐to‐publish one, where African scholars cannot afford to publish. We explore the costs of publishing and the ability of African scholars to afford to publish via open access in top journals. Three‐quarters of the 40 top ecology journals required payment for open‐access publishing (average cost $3150). Paying such fees is a hardship for African scholars as grant funding is not available and it is not feasible to pay the fees themselves as salaries are low. We encourage funders and publishers to facilitate an equitable publishing model that allows African scholars to make their research available through open‐access publishing.