All Bent Out of Shape at Topology

Abstract

In the latest brouhaha over journal prices, all nine members of the editorial board of Topology , a prestigious math journal based at the University of Oxford, U.K., plan to step down at the end of the year to protest the rising cost of institutional subscriptions. Published six times a year, the title costs €100 in Europe for individuals and €1488 for institutions. In a 10 August letter to publisher Elsevier that has recently drawn media attention, the editors said the prices have had a “damaging effect” on Topology 's reputation. Elsevier says it has “moderated” price hikes, but since 1999, editors of at least two other Elsevier journals have stepped down in a similar protest.