The oligopoly of academic publishers persists in exclusive database

The study analyzes the global scholarly publishing landscape, focusing on the oligopoly of major publishers and smaller independent publishers. Using Web of Science, Dimensions, and OpenAlex, the study finds that the oligopoly persists, but smaller publishers’ share has grown rapidly since 2000. The expansion is most pronounced in social sciences and humanities, but also in natural and medical sciences. Geographical disparities are evident, with some countries heavily reliant on major publishers and others independent. Digital publishing, reduced costs, and inclusive databases contribute to small publishers’ growth.