Symbolic scarcity and epistemic waste: a systems theory of academic publishing failure

To address these failures, the paper proposes a two-tiered publishing architecture that separates epistemic inclusion from symbolic curation, alongside a complementary tiered review model that aligns review intensity with epistemic risk. An optional framework for reviewer recognition is also outlined to support sustained evaluative engagement without undermining anonymity. These proposals are offered as conceptual system designs rather than prescriptive reforms, intended to clarify how current publishing architectures generate epistemic waste and to suggest structurally feasible pathways toward a more coherent, inclusive, and resilient scholarly communication system.