Many people outside academia assume that researchers receive some sort of financial benefit when their paper is distributed, read, or bought for $35 on Elsevier.
But in fact, the publishing companies receive money from both the researcher and the reader. They charge the researcher up to $1,500 to publish the article, and then they extract money from the readers by charging a subscription fee to their institution (which constitute a large portion of the library budget).
Not even the editors or reviewers receive any financial compensation -- they often volunteer their time for the peer-review process.
The entire procedure and profit extraction is a disgrace.
But in fact, the publishing companies receive money from both the researcher and the reader. They charge the researcher up to $1,500 to publish the article, and then they extract money from the readers by charging a subscription fee to their institution (which constitute a large portion of the library budget).
Not even the editors or reviewers receive any financial compensation -- they often volunteer their time for the peer-review process.
The entire procedure and profit extraction is a disgrace.