The Curious Case of the Journal Manuscript Market: Ethics Versus Efficiency in Academe

Abstract

This study argues that there is a formal market for journal manuscript articles. The traits of this market for nearly all disciplines, except law, are then described. We discuss how most disciplines permit a manuscript to be submitted to only one journal at a time, the role of submission fees in this market, and the costs and benefits of the current system. This system is then compared to a world in which manuscripts could be submitted simultaneously to multiple journals and the potential benefits and costs of such a system.