Abstract:

The government plays a more and more important role in the international open access (OA for short) practices, while the research on it is not enough, only be mentioned in some government reports. In addition, comparing with the foreign countries, open access in China is still at the preliminary stage. Although the market is not yet mature, but the relevant problems as publication charges, patterns transformation, sustainable development are bound to be faced. Taking history as a guide, based on the game rules in open access market and the theory of public goods, this paper explores the theoretical basis of governments’ intervention in OA market. It analyzes the government behaviors during different OA movement stages, summarizes three characteristics as periodicity, marketorientation and disciplinary. Contrasted with the typical cases in foreign countries, as European countries, the United States, Britain, India, Japan, France, it illustrates that the Chinese government should play a role in identifying situation, balancing interests of Stakeholders, making demonstration effect, and maintaining a good policy environment to assist our open access to advance with the times.

Keywords: Open access, Government intervention, Policy game, Gold OA, Green OA, Freemium