The Econometrics Journal (EctJ) aims at the rapid and early dissemination of research in econometrics that is of substantive applied value. It pursues this goal by inviting comparatively short and focused submissions that demonstrate their applied value with an empirical illustration and striving to review these submissions quickly without asking for multiple and major revisions.
We regularly report on our success in quickly reviewing new submissions. Indeed, EctJ’s latest Annual Report shows that, in 2021, the Editors usually (93%) communicated first decisions on new submissions within three months. As in previous years, they quickly rejected half of all new submissions without consulting referees. Of the remaining new submissions, 85% received a first decision within three months, against 82-93% in the preceding four years (and about 20% before 2017). Figure 1 plots the full distributions of the durations until first decision among new submissions sent to referees (not summarily rejected) by year (the current editorial policy was introduced in 2017).
The Annual Report now also provides evidence that the Editors managed to avoid multiple and major revisions. In 2021, they communicated all rejections in the first review stage and required either one (73%) or two (27%) revisions before accepting a paper. Moreover, revisions were typically minor, in the sense that they did not require much time from either the authors or EctJ. Of all papers that were eventually accepted, 80% took less than 6 months from first submission to final acceptance, including the time the authors used for revision(s). No acceptance took more than 9 months from first submission. Figure 2 plots the distributions of the durations between first submission and final decision.
Enabled by a stable flow of submissions and quick review, the Editors accepted 40 papers in 2021, up from 13-32 in the preceding four years. This allowed EctJ to include 34 papers in its 2021 issues, up from 17-24 papers. The Editors aim to publish 36 papers in 2022, ensuring a healthy flow of published papers without undue publication delays.
