Page Composition Costs of Philosophy Journals: A Report on a Study

Abstract

This paper reports the main conclusions reached in a study of cost-cutting alternatives in page composition for philosophy journals in North America. Composition costs are singled out for study because they are a major cost factor for most journals. Sponsors of the study were the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Philosophical Association, the Canadian Philosophical Association, and the Association of Philosophy Journal Editors.

The major conclusion of the study is that cost-saving composition alternatives are available to editors if they choose to adopt them. To show this, the study surveys major factors in composition costs and indicates the expense to journals of each of them. Also surveyed are various kinds of composition equipment available to editors. Suggestions are made to show how, if the options are adopted, editors can make savings approaching 50% of their current average composition costs.

The paper concludes with some observations on the financial practices of philosophy journal editors.