Equitable Open Access Publishing: Changing the Financial Power Dynamics in Academia

Key Messages Open access publishing is steadily growing but associated with high article processing charges that exacerbate disparities between funded and unfunded researchers. Early-career and underrepresented researchers often are not eligible for waivers or discounts, thus resulting in either publishing barriers or financial hardship. Journals should adopt equitable solutions that enable every author to pursue open access publishing regardless of one9s funding status or affiliation. Publishing companies should rethink open access publishing models to reduce the financial barriers for readers and authors alike.