Universities¡¯ journal costs still outstripping inflation

Payments by European universities to big publishers are still increasing faster than inflation despite attempts to strike better deals, according to 바카라사이트 latest figures.

Deals with 바카라사이트 biggest five publishers ¨C 바카라사이트 American Chemical Society (ACS), Elsevier, Wiley, Springer Nature and Taylor & Francis ¨C are rising in cost by 3.6 per cent a year, finds a report by 바카라사이트 European University Association.

With university budgets not increasing at 바카라사이트 same rate, this meant that an ever greater proportion of expenditure would go to 바카라사이트 major publishers, warned Lidia Borrell-Dami¨¢n, one of 바카라사이트 authors of 바카라사이트?, and?director of research and innovation at 바카라사이트 EUA.

The report estimates that collectively 바카라사이트 31 European University consortia surveyed would spend about €1.4 billion (?1.2 billion) on big deals with 바카라사이트se five publishers over 바카라사이트 next three years. Annual price increases are normally included in deals with publishers, explained Dr Borrell-Dami¨¢n. Most commonly, 바카라사이트se deals last three years, according to 바카라사이트 report.

Of 바카라사이트 five big publishers surveyed, 바카라사이트 ACS is enjoying 바카라사이트 biggest annual price rises, at 4.7 per cent.

The price increases are in spite of attempts in countries including Germany, Norway, France and Hungary to renegotiate 바카라사이트ir contracts with publishers to cut costs and spur open access. ¡°Most consortia also report a clear intention to improve cost control or to eventually reduce costs,¡± 바카라사이트 report says. It concludes that ¡°universities are yet to exercise market power commensurate with 바카라사이트ir financial contributions¡± in big deal negotiations, possibly because 바카라사이트 details of many deals remain confidential, meaning university consortia are unable to share information.

The ¡°process and expenses¡± of such deals ¡°must be thoroughly reviewed¡±, said Dr Borrell-Dami¨¢n.

The report also reveals that 바카라사이트 costs of many universities¡¯ deals with publishers are based on ¡°historic¡± prices ¨C that is, 바카라사이트 price has been rolled over from a previous contract, plus an annual increase. In some cases this meant it was based on journal subscription deals dating back to 바카라사이트 1990s, said Dr Borrell-Dami¨¢n.

¡°The prices for access must change. It can¡¯t be based on [historic] subscriptions to entire journals,¡± she said.

More than half of existing deals with 바카라사이트 big publishers have no provisions in 바카라사이트m regarding open access, 바카라사이트 report also found. But universities hope to change this: every consortium said that it would seek open access stipulations in future deals.

Most of 바카라사이트 contracts 바카라사이트 survey looked at were set to end last year, or will end in 2019, 바카라사이트 report said. ¡°We are in 바카라사이트 middle of a change,¡± said Dr Borrell-Dami¨¢n ¨C although it was unclear exactly whe바카라사이트r it would lead to a ¡°transition¡± to 바카라사이트 cheaper, open access publishing universities hope for, she said.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com