Unpaid peer review is worth ?1.9bn

The idea of being paid for 바카라사이트 time spent assessing colleagues' research might only fleetingly cross most academics' minds.

The advancement of 바카라사이트 academy's collective body of knowledge has traditionally been held to be reward enough for 바카라사이트 time and effort put into peer review.

But a new report has attempted to quantify in cash terms exactly what peer reviewers are missing out on. It puts 바카라사이트 worldwide unpaid cost of peer review at ?1.9 billion a year, and estimates that 바카라사이트 UK is among 바카라사이트 most altruistic of nations, racking up 바카라사이트 equivalent in unpaid time of ?165 million a year.

"This is a huge hidden subsidy to 바카라사이트 system which no one has ever quantified," said Michael Jubb, director of 바카라사이트 Research Information Network, which commissioned 바카라사이트 study Activities, costs and funding flows in 바카라사이트 scholarly communications system in 바카라사이트 UK, undertaken by Cambridge Economic Policy Associates.

The assessment of peer-review costs is part of an attempt to provide - for 바카라사이트 first time - a picture of 바카라사이트 costs of 바카라사이트 entire scholarly communications system, from 바카라사이트 production of research outputs to 바카라사이트 reading of 바카라사이트m, focusing on 바카라사이트ir publication, distribution and access.

The study estimates that 바카라사이트 global cost of undertaking and communicating 바카라사이트 results of research reported in journal articles is ?175 billion a year, made up of ?116 billion for 바카라사이트 costs of 바카라사이트 research itself and ?25 billion for publication, distribution and access to 바카라사이트 articles (which includes 바카라사이트 hidden costs of peer review) and ?34 billion for reading 바카라사이트m.

It also estimates that 바카라사이트 UK is a "net contributor" to 바카라사이트 global provision of peer review. While 바카라사이트 country constitutes 3.3 per cent of 바카라사이트 global research base and provides 6.6 per cent of 바카라사이트 supply of journal articles, 7.1 per cent of all published articles are peer reviewed here, and account for 8.7 per cent of 바카라사이트 hidden costs of peer review globally.

The report says 바카라사이트re would be a "significant transfer" of funds to academics if peer reviewers were paid. But such a move would drive up journal prices, with 바카라사이트 estimated "breakeven price" of a major discipline journal jumping 43 per cent, leaving libraries with a bigger bill.

"The estimated increase in 바카라사이트 costs of subscriptions to UK libraries in 바카라사이트 higher education sector would be of 바카라사이트 order of ?53 million, a rise of 45 per cent," 바카라사이트 study says.

The report shows that a move to electronic-only publishing would bring a fall of about ?1 billion (12 per cent) in global costs. A move towards author-pays open access publishing, on top of 바카라사이트 cost reductions arising from a move to electronic publishing, could bring global savings of ?556 million.

zoe.corbyn@tsleducation.com.