Current Editorial Board:

Treb Allen, Dartmouth College

Pierre Azoulay, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Will Dobbie (Co-Chair), Harvard University

Raymond Fisman (Co-Chair), Boston University

Benjamin R. Handel, University of California, Berkeley

Peter Hull, Brown University

Brian A. Jacob, University of Michigan

Scott Kominers, Harvard University

Tavneet Suri, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Stephen Terry, University of Michigan

Recently Retired from the Editorial Board:

Olivier Coibion, University of Texas, Austin

Daniel Xu, Duke University

Table 1—Manuscripts Submitted and Published

This table shows the trends in papers submitted and published over the past five years. The journal saw increased growth in submissions of papers from 2019 to 2020. Submission numbers remained steady from 2020 to 2021, declined by 10% in 2022, and then remained steady from 2022 to 2023. The number of published papers increased by 25 in 2022 and an additional 17 papers in 2023 due to the publication of larger issues.

Table 2—Status of Manuscripts by Year of Submission, 2019–2023

This table shows the status of manuscripts submitted over the past five years. The number of papers summarily rejected has remained steady, ranging from 54% to 61% of papers submitted. The percent of papers sent out for review but ultimately rejected has also remained steady, ranging from 30% to 35% of papers. Acceptance rates range from 2% to 11% of papers submitted. Papers submitted in 2023 have not had enough time to reflect the acceptance rate.

Table 3—Decision Time for Manuscripts Sent to Referees for Review

This table reports the decision time for manuscripts sent to referees for review over the past five years. The average decision time for papers that were sent to referees has remained steady, ranging from 82 to 95 days.

Table 4—Distribution of First Decision Times, by Submission Year

This table includes all first-round paper submissions and shows the distribution of decision times in monthly increments for the past five years. This table also reflects the improvement in the journal's decision turnaround times. In 2023, 82% of manuscripts received a decision within three months and 99% within six months.

Table 5—Subject Matter of Published Manuscripts, 2023

This table shows the distribution of subject matter of papers published in 2023. These papers covered a variety of subjects, but the most common published topics were microeconomics; mathematical and quantitative methods; and health, education, and welfare.

Table 1.

Manuscripts Submitted and Published, 2019–2023

YearSubmittedPublished
2019 1,330 66 
2020 1,666 65 
2021 1,674 65 
2022 1,480 90 
2023 1,445 107 
YearSubmittedPublished
2019 1,330 66 
2020 1,666 65 
2021 1,674 65 
2022 1,480 90 
2023 1,445 107 
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Table 2.

Status of Manuscripts by Year of Submission, 2019–2023

Submission YearAcceptedPendingRejectedSummarily RejectedRevised and ResubmittedWithdrawnTotal
2019 104 0 410 808 3 5 1,330 
 8% 0% 31% 61% 0% 0%  
2020 179 0 578 900 7 2 1,666 
 11% 0% 35% 54% 0% 0%  
2021 134 2 506 1,009 13 10 1,674 
 8% 0% 30% 60% 1% 1%  
2022 58 13 525 839 35 10 1,480 
 4% 1% 35% 57% 2% 1%  
2023 32 40 456 796 113 8 1,445 
 2% 3% 32% 55% 8% 1%  
Submission YearAcceptedPendingRejectedSummarily RejectedRevised and ResubmittedWithdrawnTotal
2019 104 0 410 808 3 5 1,330 
 8% 0% 31% 61% 0% 0%  
2020 179 0 578 900 7 2 1,666 
 11% 0% 35% 54% 0% 0%  
2021 134 2 506 1,009 13 10 1,674 
 8% 0% 30% 60% 1% 1%  
2022 58 13 525 839 35 10 1,480 
 4% 1% 35% 57% 2% 1%  
2023 32 40 456 796 113 8 1,445 
 2% 3% 32% 55% 8% 1%  

Percentages are rounded to the nearest integer. Pending manuscripts include submissions and revisions that were undergoing review as of February 26, 2024, and Revised and Resubmitted manuscripts have been returned and are in the hands of the authors on that date. Summarily rejected manuscripts are rejected without referee review.

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Table 3.

Decision Time in Days for Manuscripts Sent to Referees for Review

FractionAverageMedian75th90thNumber of Papers
YearSummarily RejectedDecision TimeDecision TimePercentilePercentileSent to Referees
2019 61% 82 77 97 118 517 
2020 68% 86 84 102 122 765 
2021 60% 86 84 100 118 657 
2022 57% 95 91 109 137 649 
2023 55% 94 87 112 144 641 
FractionAverageMedian75th90thNumber of Papers
YearSummarily RejectedDecision TimeDecision TimePercentilePercentileSent to Referees
2019 61% 82 77 97 118 517 
2020 68% 86 84 102 122 765 
2021 60% 86 84 100 118 657 
2022 57% 95 91 109 137 649 
2023 55% 94 87 112 144 641 

Decision times are for papers sent out for review. Percentages are rounded to the nearest integer. Data were included for 40 papers submitted in 2023 that did not have a decision yet.

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Table 4.

Distribution of First Decision Times, by Submission Year

 20192020202120222023
Months toMonthlyCumulativeMonthlyCumulativeMonthlyCumulativeMonthlyCumulativeMonthlyCumulative
ResponsePercentPercentPercentPercentPercentPercentPercentPercentPercentPercent
1 60 60 55 55 62 62 58 58 55 55 
2 11 71 7 62 4 66 4 62 8 63 
3 18 89 22 84 20 86 18 80 19 82 
4 8 97 12 96 11 97 14 94 9 91 
5 2 99 3 99 2 99 4 98 6 97 
6 <1 99 <1 99 <1 99 1 99 2 99 
7 <1 99 <1 99 <1 99 <1 99 <1 99 
8 <1 99 <1 100 <1 100 <1 100 <1 99 
9 <1 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 
10 0 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 
11 0 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 
12 0 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 
 20192020202120222023
Months toMonthlyCumulativeMonthlyCumulativeMonthlyCumulativeMonthlyCumulativeMonthlyCumulative
ResponsePercentPercentPercentPercentPercentPercentPercentPercentPercentPercent
1 60 60 55 55 62 62 58 58 55 55 
2 11 71 7 62 4 66 4 62 8 63 
3 18 89 22 84 20 86 18 80 19 82 
4 8 97 12 96 11 97 14 94 9 91 
5 2 99 3 99 2 99 4 98 6 97 
6 <1 99 <1 99 <1 99 1 99 2 99 
7 <1 99 <1 99 <1 99 <1 99 <1 99 
8 <1 99 <1 100 <1 100 <1 100 <1 99 
9 <1 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 
10 0 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 
11 0 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 
12 0 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 

Percentages are rounded to the nearest integer. Data were included for 40 papers submitted in 2023 that did not have a decision yet.

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Table 5.

Subject Matter of Published Manuscripts, 2023

JELSubject CategoryNumber
A General Economics and Teaching 0 
B Methodology/History of Thought 0 
C Mathematical and Quantitative Methods 16 
D Microeconomics 20 
E Macro and Monetary Economics 10 
F International Economics 4 
G Financial Economics 2 
H Public Economics 8 
I Health, Education, and Welfare 16 
J Labor and Demographic Economics 7 
K Law and Economics 2 
L Industrial Organization 3 
M Business Economics 0 
N Economic History 1 
O Economic Development 10 
P Economic Systems 2 
Q Agricultural/Natural Resources 1 
R Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics 4 
Z Misc. and Special Topics 1 
JELSubject CategoryNumber
A General Economics and Teaching 0 
B Methodology/History of Thought 0 
C Mathematical and Quantitative Methods 16 
D Microeconomics 20 
E Macro and Monetary Economics 10 
F International Economics 4 
G Financial Economics 2 
H Public Economics 8 
I Health, Education, and Welfare 16 
J Labor and Demographic Economics 7 
K Law and Economics 2 
L Industrial Organization 3 
M Business Economics 0 
N Economic History 1 
O Economic Development 10 
P Economic Systems 2 
Q Agricultural/Natural Resources 1 
R Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics 4 
Z Misc. and Special Topics 1 

Derived from JEL codes reported for each manuscript for the 2023 publication year.

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© 2024 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2024
The President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology