The Impact of Publisher Mergers on Journal Prices

Abstract

This paper summarizes a theoretical and empirical analysis of library and publisher behavior in academic journal markets. Libraries demand portfolios of journal titles. As a consequence, publishers may find it profitable to increase the size of their journal portfolios via mergers. Using data for some one thousand biomedical journals and holdings from 194 libraries, the analysis indicates that quality and cost-adjusted price increases have been substantial over the past decade and that past mergers have contributed to these price increases.

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