Getting Cited: Does Open Access Help?

16 Pages Posted: 3 Jul 2009 Last revised: 27 Apr 2012

See all articles by Patrick Gaule

Patrick Gaule

University of Geneva - Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences

Nicolas Maystre

UNCTAD - United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; Department of Economics - University of Geneva

Date Written: November 12, 2008

Abstract

We reexamine the widely held belief that free availability of scientific articles increases the number of citations they receive. Since open access is relatively more attractive to authors of higher quality papers, regressing citations on open access and other controls yields upward biased estimates. Using an instrumental variable approach, we find no significant effect of open access. Instead, self-selection of higher quality articles into open access explains at least part of the observed open access citation advantage.

Keywords: scholarly publishing, open access, free access

JEL Classification: O33, O38

Suggested Citation

Gaule, Patrick and Maystre, Nicolas, Getting Cited: Does Open Access Help? (November 12, 2008). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1427763 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1427763

Patrick Gaule (Contact Author)

University of Geneva - Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences ( email )

40, data base of the Bridge of Arve
Geneva, CH-1211
Switzerland

Nicolas Maystre

UNCTAD - United Nations Conference on Trade and Development ( email )

Palais des Nations
Room: E 10028
Geneva, 1211
Switzerland
+41229171848 (Phone)

Department of Economics - University of Geneva ( email )

40, boulevard du Pont-d'Arve
Geneva 4, CH-1211
Switzerland

HOME PAGE: http://www.unige.ch/ses/dsec/staff/faculty/Maystre-Nicolas.html

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