3-Publication Ethics Policy

3.1    Ethics

The Business & Economic Review (BER) is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. Publication ethics are essential to maintaining the integrity of academic work, fostering trust in research, ensuring credibility of authorship, and protecting the public record of knowledge.

This Publication Ethics Policy outlines the responsibilities and ethical principles expected of all participants in the publishing process—authors, reviewers, editors, editorial board members, and the publisher. It adheres to internationally recognized guidelines, including those set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

3.2    Principles of Ethical Publishing

BER supports ethical publishing based on the following core principles:

  • Honesty in research and reporting
  • Transparency in authorship and conflicts of interest
  • Integrity in the peer review process
  • Accountability for corrections, retractions, and clarifications
  • Respect for intellectual property, data privacy, and publication norms
  • Fairness and equality in editorial decisions, regardless of race, gender, nationality, or institutional affiliation

3.3    Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting to BER must adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.

3.3.1 Originality and Plagiarism

  • All submitted work must be original and free from plagiarism.
  • Proper citations and references must be provided for all sources, including paraphrased or summarized content.
  • Self-plagiarism (reuse of significant portions of one’s own previously published work) must be clearly identified and justified.
  • BER uses plagiarism detection tools (Turnitin) to screen submissions.

3.3.2 Authorship and Contributions

  • Only individuals who made substantial contributions to the research should be listed as authors.
  • All listed authors must have:
  • Contributed to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the work.
  • Approved the final version for submission.
  • Agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

3.3.3 Data Accuracy and Availability

  • Authors must present accurate, verifiable data and methods.
  • Fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of data is unethical and prohibited.
  • Authors should retain raw data and may be asked to provide it during the editorial process.

3.3.4 Redundant or Duplicate Publication

  • Manuscripts must not be under review elsewhere or previously published in substantially similar form.
  • If overlapping content exists, authors must provide transparent disclosure and appropriate citation.

3.3.5 Acknowledgment of Sources and Funding

  • Authors must acknowledge all sources of funding, institutional support, and relevant prior research.
  • Contributions from individuals who do not meet authorship criteria should be listed in acknowledgments.

3.3.6 Conflicts of Interest

  • Authors must declare any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the research or its interpretation.
  • BER requires a formal disclosure statement upon submission.

3.4    Responsibilities of Editors and Editorial Board

The Editors of BER have a duty to oversee the integrity and fairness of the editorial process.

3.4.1 Editorial Independence

  • Editors make decisions based on academic merit and the manuscript’s contribution to the field, not personal, institutional, or commercial interests.
  • Editorial decisions are independent of advertising or sponsorship.

3.4.2 Confidentiality

  • Manuscripts and reviewer identities are treated as confidential information.
  • Editors must not disclose information about submissions to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and journal staff.

3.4.3 Fair and Impartial Decision-Making

  • Editors ensure that all submissions receive an unbiased, timely, and rigorous review.
  • Discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, nationality, or affiliation is strictly prohibited.

3.4.4 Handling of Misconduct

  • Suspected cases of plagiarism, fabrication, duplicate publication, or unethical behavior are investigated thoroughly.
  • When necessary, editors will retract or correct published articles in accordance with COPE guidelines.

3.5    Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers

Peer review is a central element of academic publishing. BER uses double-blind peer review to ensure fairness and objectivity.

3.5.1 Confidentiality

  • Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential documents.
  • They may not share, discuss, or use the material for personal advantage.

3.5.2 Objectivity

  • Reviews should be conducted objectively and constructively, offering suggestions for improvement.
  • Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate and unprofessional.

3.5.3 Timeliness

  • Reviewers should respond to invitations promptly and complete reviews within the specified timeline.
  • If unable to review, they should notify the editor immediately.

3.5.4 Disclosure of Conflicts

  • Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that may affect their objectivity, including relationships with authors, institutions, or competing interests.

3.6    Ethical Issues in the Publication Lifecycle

3.6.1 Plagiarism and Misconduct

BER takes a zero-tolerance approach to plagiarism, data fabrication, and other forms of misconduct. If confirmed, actions may include:

  • Rejection of the manuscript
  • Retraction of the published article
  • Notification to the author’s institution or funder
  • Blacklisting of authors in severe cases

3.6.2 Retractions and Corrections

  • Articles may be retracted if serious errors or misconduct are found post-publication.
  • Minor errors may result in corrections or errata, published in the next journal issue.
  • All such notices are clearly marked and linked to the original article.

3.6.3 Complaints and Appeals

  • Authors may appeal editorial decisions by providing clear, reasoned arguments.
  • All complaints are handled according to COPE’s flowcharts and guidance, ensuring due process.

3.7    Human Subjects and Ethical Approval

If research involves human participants, authors must confirm that:

  • The study was approved by an appropriate Ethics Review Board or committee.
  • Informed consent was obtained from all participants.
  • Confidentiality and data protection practices were followed in accordance with legal and ethical standards.

3.8    Intellectual Property and Copyright

Authors must ensure that:

  • All included content (tables, figures, images) is either original or used with appropriate permission.
  • Copyrighted material is cited accurately and used under fair use, license, or with direct permission.
  • Reuse rights are consistent with BER’s Copyright & Licensing Policy and Creative Commons terms.

3.9    Conflicts of Interest and Financial Disclosures

All participants in the publishing process—authors, editors, and reviewers—must declare any real or perceived conflicts that could influence the outcome of publication.

This includes:

  • Financial ties to organizations with a vested interest in the content
  • Employment or consultancies
  • Grants or funding
  • Personal relationships

BER publishes conflict-of-interest statements with each article when relevant.

3.10           Data Transparency and Sharing

Authors should strive for transparency in data and methodology, and where possible:

  • Share datasets in public repositories under FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable)
  • Provide replication codes or supplementary materials to support reproducibility
  • Clearly state limitations or restrictions on data sharing (for privacy or legal reasons)

3.11           Post-Publication Responsibilities

3.11.1 Sharing and Reuse

BER encourages authors to:

  • Deposit their final published article in institutional or subject repositories
  • Use the work in teaching and presentations
  • Share on academic social networks (e.g., ResearchGate), respecting copyright and licensing terms

3.11.2 Post-Publication Critique

  • Readers may submit letters to the editor or formal critiques.
  • Authors have the right to respond to criticism, provided it is conducted respectfully and with scholarly evidence.

3.12           Responsibilities of the Publisher

BER’s publisher supports ethical publishing by:

  • Maintaining digital archiving and access systems
  • Upholding transparency in fees, licensing, and policies
  • Supporting editorial independence
  • Enforcing legal and ethical compliance in response to misconduct or legal concerns

3.13           Compliance with International Standards

BER’s Publication Ethics Policy is aligned with:

  • COPE Core Practices
  • Open Access publishing principles

These frameworks provide a global benchmark for ethical publishing and are referenced when making decisions about disputes or misconduct.