Returning scholarly journals into the hands of science.
This is also called scholar-led Open Access.
It means that the rights to a journal title and thus the decision-making authority on all matters regarding the journal rest with the editors. In some cases, the rights to a journal title are owned by a commercial publisher. OLEcon supports editors in the negotiations to regain these title rights.
With these goals, OLEcon puts into practice two key demands of current science policy:
1. strengthening non-commercial infrastructures
2. Open Access without fees for researchers and readers.
Why Open Access with OLEcon?
More visibility
Open Access journals are more visible than journals behind paywalls. Articles can be linked or shared without access issues.
More innovative
More and more research funding agencies demand that research findings resulting from their funding must be published in Open Access (see the initiative Plan S). An Open Access business model gives an advantage to journals in the competition for submissions.
More attractive for authors
Journals published in Diamond Open Access are more attractive for authors since they don’t have to pay article processing charges. This is also shown by the experience of Wirtschaftsdienst and Intereconomics (journals edited by the ZBW): page views and submissions increased after the change to Open Access.
Scholar-led
OLEcon journals are scholar-led. Therefore, the editors can act and make decisions independently of commercial publishing houses.