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Who should pay for open access publishing—authors, institutions, or funders?

APCs (Article Processing Charges) can be $3000. As an early-career researcher without a big grant, I can't afford that. Is the "author-pays" model fair, or are there better alternatives? What are institutions and funders doing to help?

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By Saqib Answered 7 months ago

The author-pays model is widely criticized for exacerbating inequity, favoring well-funded researchers in the Global North. Sustainable alternatives are emerging: 1) Transformative Agreements: Many universities now have "read-and-publish" deals with publishers. If your institution has one, your APC may be fully covered when you submit. Check your library's website. 2) Funder Mandates & Grants: Most major funders (NIH, Wellcome, ERC) now include OA publishing funds in their grants. 3) Institutional Funds: Your university library or research office may have a central OA fund. 4) Diamond/Community-Driven OA: Support journals run by scholarly societies or universities that charge no fees. The future is moving away from individual author payments toward collective, institutional funding models that decouple publishing from personal wealth. Always explore these options before paying an APC yourself.

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