On the consumer market economics of scientific knowledge

Abstract

With an increased commercialization of traditionally public activities a significant portion of scientific communication has become subject to relatively uncontrolled market forces. Regulatory measures have not yet been developed although "there is evidence to suggest that the market for STM [Scientific, Technical, and Medical] journals may not be working well", as was pointed out in a report from the [U.K.] Office of Fair Trading. We have a situation, which is well known to the readers of this e-publication, where libraries have the role of middlemen between publishers and readers. So the consumers do not have a direct customer relationship with the producers (or their sales agents).