Research assessment systems, open access policies, and knowledge commons: a comparative synthesis in the Americas (2015–2025)

Abstract

Research assessment shapes what is studied, where it is published and which academic careers are rewarded, yet it remains largely driven by bibliometric indicators and commercial indexes, in tension with open science and knowledge as a common good. This article reports a systematic review of empirical studies published between 2015 and 2025 on the relationship between assessment criteria, metrics and incentives and the adoption of open access policies, practices and knowledge commons. The review focuses on the Americas, particularly the United States, Canada and Latin America. The findings show the predominance of bibliometric assessment regimes, the partial integration of open science, the limited recognition of cooperative infrastructures and emerging experiences of evaluative reform.