The RSA Board, at their meeting in Ljubljana 2023, took the decision to cease print copies of the RSA journals Regional Studies; Spatial Economic Analysis; Territory, Politics, Governance; and Area Development and Policy. The journal Regional Studies, Regional Science is a gold open access journal and already only available online and the new journal Finance and Space which launches in January 2024 will move straight to online only.
The move to online only affects only the RSA journals. The Policy Expo books (usually two per year) will still be sent to you as print copies when they have been published. Previous Policy Expos can be accessed online through the RSA portal or via your institution’s subscription.
The decision to move to online only for the RSA journals has not been taken in haste and print copies will not cease until September 2024. In taking this step we are in good company; many other learned societies have either already done this or are taking this decision.
Several reasons lie behind this development:
- Sustainability – dropping print saves precious resources and reduces waste (based on 2022, RSA’s print journals (members & subscribers) were responsible for approximately 28 tonnes of CO2 or around 30 transatlantic flights).
- The online versions of our journals are well used (assessed by download figures), and we hear that the search functions work well.
- The number of members taking print has been dropping for some years and this trend accelerated during the pandemic.
- Very few library subscribers take print copies.
- The financial saving to the publisher and shared with the Association amounts, for example, to the equivalent of 2.5 early career grants.
- Regional Studies, Regional Science already operates very well online only
Members with a medical need for print issues should contact Alex – to discuss options. It will be possible to pay for print copies of any issues of RSA journals on a print on demand basis.
We know that many members will welcome this move by the Association as part of our ongoing commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and CSR work. We hope that the lead time to dropping print, and support from the publisher and the RSA team on how to access your online journals, will assist in the transition to online only.