The impact of electronic publishing on the performance of professional information markets in the Netherlands

Abstract

This exploratory article builds upon industrial organization theory to discuss, clarify and tentatively predict how electronic publishing affects the performance of professional information markets in the Netherlands. First, it explains how the availability of low-cost electronic reproduction and distribution technologies initiates new entry and vertical disintegration in the professional information value chain. It then argues that traditional publishers use electronic publishing strategies to counter these threats and to regain control over professional information markets. It subsequently theorizes how these changes are likely to affect market performance. Finally, it predicts that electronic publishing is likely to improve performance of professional information markets, by reinforcing competition between traditional publishers that operate on information markets, and new entrants that operate on attention markets.

Electronic Orientalism? the afterlife of Syed Hussein Alatas’ The Myth of the Lazy Native in online databases

“…See also the contributions in Hassan (2005), which assess its relevance for a number of fields. 2 See for example Van Der Wurff (2002) for a study of the impact of electronic publishing on professional information markets in the Netherlands. Van Der Wurff predicts that competition between traditional publishers and new entrants ultimately will lead to a 'beneficial combination of high diversity and low prices of professional information services ' (2002: 309).…”

Online Competition and Performance of News and Information Markets in the Netherlands

“…That is, content producers and attention-seekers nowadays can use relatively cheap internet technology to distribute their information at low cost directly to audiences. Examples include scholars starting online preprint archives; companies providing product information via websites or e-journals to prospective clients; consultancies and research agencies making (summaries) of research reports available on websites; governments, regulatory bodies and legal courts offering legal and background information and policy documents online; and internet start-ups creating dedicated information services (Jascó, 1999a(Jascó, , 1999bRutten, 1998;van der Wurff, 2002).…”

“…Likewise, authors and attention-seekers have a much wider choice of access to audiences. Internet therefore strengthens the competitive position of users, content producers and attention-seekers vis-à-vis traditional publishers (van der Wurff, 2002).…”

“…1. Attention-seekers are players who are willing to pay to draw the attention of audiences to their marketing messages (van der Wurff, 2002). They include not only advertisers and sponsors, but also companies that publish their own newsletters to boost sales of non-information products.…”