The Paradox of Academic Publishing: Why Low-Quality Research Thrives While Disruptive Innovation Struggles

This paper examines a critical paradox in contemporary academic publishing: while disruptive innovations that could significantly advance scientific knowledge receive limited market demand, low-quality research produced by profit-driven mechanisms flourishes. Through analysis of current publishing dynamics, this study reveals how commercial academic publishers have created a system where journals with genuine scholarly intentions often fail to sustain themselves, while those prioritizing profit through mass publication of substandard research achieve higher impact factors and greater market success. The research demonstrates that this phenomenon stems from systematic misalignment between scientific merit and market incentives in academic publishing, creating barriers to truly innovative research while rewarding quantity over quality.