> Academic research (one of the big complainers about the cost) could fix this easily - stop rewarding scientists for publishing in those journals!
From what I know, it's the politicians that rewards scientists for publishing in those journals. At least here in Norway, universities have been competing for funding[1], and publishing in higher-impact ("more prestigious") journals counts for more compared to lower-impact journals.
Generally the committees that make funding decisions are staffed by scientists. It shouldn't be surprising at all that scientists who got where they were by publishing in prestigious journals, look for the same when making funding decisions.
From what I know, it's the politicians that rewards scientists for publishing in those journals. At least here in Norway, universities have been competing for funding[1], and publishing in higher-impact ("more prestigious") journals counts for more compared to lower-impact journals.
[1]: https://www.regjeringen.no/globalassets/upload/kd/vedlegg/uh...