The APC-Effect: Stratification in Open Access Publishing

Increasing evidence emerges that APCs (article processing charges) impede researchers with fewer resources in publishing their research OA. This potential new barrier, called “APC-Effect”, has been examined on the level of individual authors, institutions, countries, and fields. In the study presented by both Austrian researchers, effects are largest in countries with low GDP, suggesting decreasing marginal effects of institutional resources when general levels of funding are high. Findings provide further evidence on how APCs stratify OA publishing and highlight the need for alternative publishing models.