To use an expression from the world of macroeconomics and politics in relation to a "micro" activity is pompous. However, it is rather realistic in the context of the life and day to day dealings of a periodical publication.

Scientific journals, in this case the (not so natural) resource to be sustained, are the objects of "exploitation" by large publishing houses that obtain benefits for their shareholders from their business. Such enterprises are dedicated to mainstream journals and measure their commercial feasibility as a function of their acceptance by the academic community. The clients, libraries in teaching and research institutions, pay high prices in order to have a resource that they consider as valuable.

The international scientific community searches for ways to overcome the restrictions and difficulties through several mechanisms, particularly the electronic publications, whether in the traditional journal form, or as pre-print or published material exchange systems via Internet (see Editorial by Jean Claude Guédon in Interciencia Vol. 27 Nº 4).

The scientific journals produced in the questionably called developing countries, particularly in Latin America, that are handled by large publishing houses can be counted with the fingers of one hand. On the other hand, electronic media do not have, in our region, the reach they have achieved in other parts of the world. We remain far from being able to carry out all the production process and, more important, of diffusion through these media. Then, how can the majority of our journals survive, if not "develop" themselves?

Almost all the scientific journals published in the region are institutional ones. They belong to academic institutions of professional groups whose budgets or patrons cover the always increasing costs of production and distribution. They do not escape from the recurrent economic difficulties affecting such organizations. To try to be self-financed is an unreachable objective.

Interciencia, a journal published without interruption during 27 years by the homonymous association, which groups the associations for the advancement of science of the western world, has not had an institutional financial support, due to the precarious economic situation of such associations of scientists. Fortunately, the journal has relied on the patronage, through grants, by Venezuelan institutions for the promotion of science and technology. Unfortunately, the current fiscal situation of the country does not allow to visualize a significant support to the scientific periodicals program.

The sources of income, other than the said grants, cover one half of the production and distribution expenses and are also affected by the present financial situation, as Venezuelan academic institutions which provide the meager publicity and a large part of the income from page charges also go through a period of great hardship. On the other hand, we are conscious that Interciencia cannot charge subscription prices similar to the main journals, as only 25% of the published articles and research reports are written in English, and its public is, largely, researchers and academic libraries in the region.

Our culture of scientific publication, if such a thing exists, is paradoxical. Our research systems and institutions require ever more the publication of results, as the culmination of the research process. They require the use of serious, recognized and nationally and internationally prestigious journals. However, in many countries the institutions refuse to consider any payment of page charges.

As Interciencia’s policy is to carry out the refereeing, editing and publication of all the accepted papers without any payment by authors themselves, the journal solicits them to request the corresponding payment from their institutions or research grants. In many cases, the enthusiastic and positive response from authors is opposed by a stubborn institutional position, as it is not understood that somebody ought to cover the expenses.

Only after we become fully conscious of the fact that we need good journals and that it is required that all involved parties contribute to cover the expenses implied in their production and distribution, we will be able to say that we are on the path to a sustainable condition for our scientific journals.

Miguel Laufer. Editor, Interciencia