The one-size-fits-all syndrome strikes again. Scientific disciplines
are vastly different in terms of all the relevant variables here,
such as rejection rates, turnaround times, editorial structures, etc. I
understand that BMC's figure of $500 article-processing-charge (APC) per
published article is based on an average rejection rate of 50%. The same
ratio applied to a top economics journal (with a rejection rate of 95%)
would yield a prohibitive $5,000 APC.
If we are going to have a serious discussion about peer-review costs we
have to move away from meaningless averages and determine instead the
significant variables, so that consensus can be achieved on a pricing
**formula** for peer review.
Notice also that peer review costs can also be used to change the quality
and speed of peer review (which means that even an average peer-review
pricing formula may be difficult to calculate).
Manfredi La Manna
Dr Manfredi M.A. La Manna
Reader in Economics
ELSSS, Dept of Economics
University of St Andrews
St Andrews KY16 9AL
Scotland, UK
Tel: 44 + (0)1334 462434
Fax: 44+ (0)1334 462444
NEW: ELSSS Mobile: 0797 0054969
http://www.elsss.org
Received on Fri Jan 10 2003 - 22:11:30 GMT