The Paradox of Open Access: Article Processing Charges, Knowledge Inequality, and the Quest for Equitable Scholarly Communication

Muhamad Abdul Muid; Muhammad Khoirul Umam; Barlian Fajri

doi:10.67245/adhyasta.v1i1.56

Authors

Muhamad Abdul Muid Universitas Islam Internasional Darullughah Wadda'wah, Pasuruan
Muhammad Khoirul Umam Universitas Islam Internasional Darullughah Wadda'wah, Pasuruan
Barlian Fajri Institut Agama Islam Tihamah, Cirebon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.67245/adhyasta.v1i1.56

Keywords:

Open Access, Article Processing Charges, Knowledge Inequality, Scholarly Communication, Knowledge Justice

Abstract

urpose – This study examines how Open Access redistributes inequality within scholarly communication, particularly through Article Processing Charges (APCs). It addresses the gap in existing literature that often treats access, publishing participation, and scholarly recognition as separate issues. The study argues that openness should be evaluated not only by whether knowledge is free to read, but also by whether scholars have equitable opportunities to publish and gain recognition.

Design/methods/approach – An integrative literature review was conducted using 52 records identified through Boolean searches on Open Access, APCs, scholarly communication, knowledge inequality, and epistemic justice. After removing duplicates, 49 unique publications were screened and analyzed through thematic synthesis and conceptual coding.

Findings – The findings show that Open Access reduces reader-side barriers but may shift inequality toward authors through APC-based publishing. Financial, geographical, institutional, linguistic, and prestige-related barriers interact across the scholarly communication cycle. The study identifies three interconnected dimensions of Open Access Justice: Access Justice, Participation Justice, and Recognition Justice. It also identifies an inequality cascade through which resource disparities may influence publication opportunities, visibility, recognition, and future academic resources.

Research implications/limitations – The framework provides a basis for evaluating Open Access policies beyond accessibility alone. However, the study is limited by its integrative design and the heterogeneous nature of the reviewed literature, requiring further empirical validation.

Originality/value – The study proposes a multidimensional Open Access Justice framework and conceptualizes inequality as a cumulative process across scholarly communication.

References

Acharjee, A., & Acharjee, P. (2024). Democratizing Knowledge or Closing Gates? A Critical Examination of Article-Processing Charges. In P. B. Joshi, P. P. Churi, & M. Pandey (Eds.), Scientific Publishing Ecosystem: An Author-Editor-Reviewer Axis (pp. 79–104). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-4060-4_5

Beigel, F. (2026). Untangling the Future of Diamond Access: Discussing Quality Standards for the Re-communalization of Scholarly Publishing. Weizenbaum Journal of the Digital Society, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.34669/WI.WJDS/6.1.2

Berger, M. (2021). Bibliodiversity at the Centre: Decolonizing Open Access. Development and Change, 52(2), 383–404. https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12634

Cox, E. (2023). Research Outputs as Testimony & the APC as Testimonial Injustice in the Global South. College & Research Libraries, 84(4), 513. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.84.4.513

Dote Pardo, J. S. (2025). Impact of open access on academic visibility: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Documentation, 82(1), 16–42. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-08-2025-0216

Druelinger, D., & Ma, L. (2023). Missing a golden opportunity? An analysis of publication trends by income level in the Directory of Open Access Journals 1987–2020. Learned Publishing, 36(3), 348–358. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1543

Eneh, S. C., Onukansi, F. O., Obi, C. G., Anokwuru, C. C., Ikhuoria, O. V., Nwalieji, C. A., Nwuzoh, M. I., Ekwebene, O. C., Udokang, E. I., Chigozie, O. C., Dozie, U. W., & Ojo, T. O. (2025). Article processing charges and health research output in low-income countries: Funding cuts, implications for health policy and system management. Frontiers in Health Services, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/frhs.2025.1686682

Ford, A. Y., & Alemneh, D. G. (2022). The Role of Open Access in Enhancing Equitable Curricula and Research Outputs: Global Context. In Handbook of Research on the Global View of Open Access and Scholarly Communications (pp. 126–147). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-9805-4.ch007

Frank, J., Foster, R., & Pagliari, C. (2023). Open access publishing – noble intention, flawed reality. Social Science & Medicine, 317, 115592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115592

Green, T. (2019). Is open access affordable? Why current models do not work and why we need internet‐era transformation of scholarly communications. Learned Publishing, 32(1), 13–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1219

Ili, B. (2025). Academic Quality or Commercial Concern? The Role of APCs in Open-Access Communication Studies Journals. tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique. Open Access Journal for a Global Sustainable Information Society, 23(1), 74–93. https://doi.org/10.31269/triplec.v23i1.1547

Kim, E. K., & Shrime, M. G. (2023). Cost of open access publishing in otolaryngology‐head and neck surgery. World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, 09(04), 352–356. https://doi.org/10.1002/wjo2.78

Knöchelmann, M. (2021). The Democratisation Myth: Open Access and the Solidification of Epistemic Injustices. Science & Technology Studies, 34(2), 65–89. https://doi.org/10.23987/sts.94964

Kumari, M., & A, S. (2025). Perceptions of open access publishing: A comparative study of gold and diamond models among global researchers. Alexandria, 35(1–2), 55–73. https://doi.org/10.1177/09557490251335952

Kwanya, T., & Ateka, A. (2026). Sustaining diamond open access in Africa towards knowledge equity and community-driven publishing. Information Development, 02666669251411317. https://doi.org/10.1177/02666669251411317

Maliao, R., & Tóthmérész, B. (2026). Beyond conditional visibility: Operationalizing epistemic justice in conservation science. Environmental Conservation, 53(2), 57–61. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892926100381

Meagher, K. (2021). Introduction: The Politics of Open Access — Decolonizing Research or Corporate Capture? Development and Change, 52(2), 340–358. https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12630

MoChridhe, R. (2019). Linguistic equity as open access: Internationalizing the language of scholarly communication. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 45(4), 423–427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2019.02.006

Muid, M. A., Sucipto, A., & Kholili, M. A. (2026). Information Evaluation Skills in the Era of ChatGPT: Implications for Academic Writing and Language Education. Locana: Journal of Linguistics, Literature, and Language Education, 1(1), 50–67. https://doi.org/10.67245/locana.v1i1.21

Nicholas, D., Revez, J., Abrizah, A., Rodríguez‐Bravo, B., Boukacem‐Zeghmouri, C., Clark, D., Xu, J., Swigon, M., Watkinson, A., Jamali, H. R., & Herman, E. (2024). Purchase and publish: Early career researchers and open access publishing costs. Learned Publishing, 37(4), e1617. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1617

Peruginelli, G., & Faro, S. (2024). Diamond Open Access: A Viable Approach to Scholarly Communication. Symphonya. Emerging Issues in Management, (2), 66–74. https://doi.org/10.4468/2024.2.05peruginelli.faro

Pinfield, S. (2024). Achieving Global Open Access: The Need for Scientific, Epistemic and Participatory Openness. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032679259

Ross-Hellauer, T., Reichmann, S., Cole, N. L., Fessl, A., Klebel, T., & Pontika, N. (2021). Dynamics of cumulative advantage and threats to equity in open science: A scoping review. Royal Society Open Science, 9(1), 211032. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.211032

Saloojee, H., & Pettifor, J. M. (2024). Maximizing Access and Minimizing Barriers to Research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Open Access and Health Equity. Calcified Tissue International, 114(2), 83–85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-023-01151-7

Segado-Boj, F., Prieto-Gutiérrez, J.-J., & Martín-Quevedo, J. (2022). Attitudes, willingness, and resources to cover article publishing charges: The influence of age, position, income level country, discipline and open access habits. Learned Publishing, 35(4), 489–498. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1455

Smith, E., Haustein, S., Mongeon, P., Shu, F., Ridde, V., & Larivière, V. (2017). Knowledge sharing in global health research – the impact, uptake and cost of open access to scholarly literature. Health Research Policy and Systems, 15(1), 73. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-017-0235-3

Strydom, A., Mellet, J., Van Rensburg, J., Viljoen, I., Athanasiadis, A., & Pepper, M. S. (2022). Open access and its potential impact on public health – A South African perspective. Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/frma.2022.975109