Publication Behavior and Open Science Mandates across Public Research Institutes

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of institutional open science mandates on the scientific publication behavior of researchers affiliated with public research institutes. Utilizing a robust difference-in-differences empirical design, we analyze a comprehensive dataset spanning multiple disciplines before and after the implementation of national and institutional open science policies. Our findings reveal that the introduction of explicit mandates significantly accelerates the transition of academic output toward gold and green open access pathways, albeit with heterogeneous effects across scientific disciplines and institutional tiers. While high-impact research institutes exhibit rapid compliance driven by flexible funding structures, smaller or resource-constrained public research organizations struggle with the financial burdens associated with article processing charges. Furthermore, the analysis indicates that policy mandates not only alter the choice of publishing venues but also induce subtle shifts in collaboration networks and research dissemination velocity. This study provides empirical evidence of how top-down scientific governance restructures scholarly communication, offering valuable policy insights for funding bodies, institutional administrators, and policymakers aiming to balance academic accessibility with financial sustainability.