Peer Review Process

At ESPAS - Journal of Economics and Banking, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and quality. To ensure the publication of rigorous and credible research, all submissions undergo a thorough peer review process, which is designed to evaluate the validity, significance, and originality of the research.

1. Initial Submission and Editorial Screening:

Upon submission, each manuscript is first reviewed by the editorial team to ensure it meets the basic requirements of the journal, including adherence to the journal’s Focus and Scope, Author Guidelines, and formatting standards. Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be returned to the authors for revision before proceeding to the peer review stage.

2. Double-Blind Peer Review:

ESPAS employs a double-blind peer review process, where both the reviewers and the authors remain anonymous to each other. This approach ensures an unbiased evaluation of the manuscript. Each submission is reviewed by at least two independent experts in the relevant field.

• Reviewer Selection: Reviewers are carefully chosen based on their expertise and experience in the subject matter of the manuscript. They are tasked with assessing the quality, methodology, relevance, and contribution of the research.

• Review Criteria: Reviewers evaluate the manuscript on various criteria, including the clarity of the research question, the appropriateness of the methodology, the robustness of data analysis, the significance of the findings, and the originality of the work. Additionally, they assess the manuscript’s adherence to ethical standards and the quality of the writing.

3. Review Outcomes:

After the review process, the reviewers submit their recommendations, which can fall into one of the following categories:

• Accept as is: The manuscript is ready for publication with no or minor revisions.
• Minor revisions: The manuscript requires small changes that do not significantly alter the research findings or conclusions.
• Major revisions: The manuscript needs substantial modifications before it can be reconsidered for publication.
• Reject: The manuscript is not suitable for publication in the journal.

The editorial team consolidates the feedback from the reviewers and makes a final decision, which is then communicated to the authors along with the reviewers’ comments. Authors are encouraged to address all reviewer feedback carefully and resubmit their revised manuscript, if applicable.

4. Final Decision and Publication:

After the authors have submitted the revised manuscript, it may undergo a second round of review, particularly if major revisions were requested. Once the manuscript meets all the standards of the journal, it is approved for publication. The final decision on all manuscripts rests with the Editor-in-Chief.

5. Ethical Considerations:

ESPAS adheres to strict ethical guidelines throughout the review process. Any conflicts of interest, plagiarism, or ethical concerns raised during the review are thoroughly investigated. The journal follows the ethical standards set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

By upholding a rigorous peer review process, ESPAS - Journal of Economics and Banking ensures that all published research is of the highest academic quality, contributing meaningfully to the fields of Economics and Banking.