PLOS ONE Output Falls Following Impact Factor Decline

[David Wojick]

Dear Stephen, that is an interesting possibility, one of many in fact, but 
possibilities for change are not evidence of the unsustainability of the 
present system. In fact subscription revenues are still growing.

Regarding your specifics, (1) I do not see how cheap computer space works 
selectively against subscription journals, as they can use it too. (2) Does 
your repository model eliminate journals altogether? If so then you face 
the loss of (a) peer review and (b) ranking by rejection, both of which are 
thought to be values added by journals, among others.

But the relative merits of the many various OA models being tried out today 
are not really the issue here. Every proposal has merit or it would not be 
being tried out. I just see no evidence that any of them is about to 
replace the subscription system. Ironically their multiplicity is probably 
an obstacle in itself.

David
http://insidepublicaccess.com/

At 09:56 AM 7/4/2014, you wrote:

>As for me, I am not arguing the case of the subscription system on its meri=
>ts.  It functioned well in its day.  I am arguing the case on its brutal ec=
>onomics.  The subscription system is not financially efficient.  It costs a=
>  lot to publish a journal, and editors are forcing authors to remain within=
>  size limits due to cost factors.  Even then costs sky rocket because the p=
>ublication universe is exponentially expanding.
>
>
>
>On the other hand, computer space has become very cheap.  I have a nephew w=
>orking for EMC, which makes and sells computer space.  It started making mo=
>ney hand over fist, and its stock went through the roof, enriching me.  Whe=
>n I asked him why, he said that its product became very cheap, and the comp=
>any was able to reduce drastically the price on its product, exponentially =
>expanding it sales.  That is when a company really makes money.
>
>
>
>The logic here is to base the scientific information system not on publicat=
>ion and journals but on computer space, which seems to be infinite and chea=
>p.  That is what is done by open access institutional repositories, which a=
>re now feasible because the Google search engine can efficiently index them=
>  and retrieve from them.  Technology has made the journal not only technolo=
>gically outmoded but economically inefficient.  As for scientometrics, ever=
>ything human socially stratifies, and institutional repositories will also =
>do this, and the game can go on.
>
>
>
>Stephen J. Bensman, Ph.D.
>
>Louisiana State University
>
>USA