Peer Review Policy

Asian Journal of Research in Economics and Finance (AJREF) follows a rigorous and transparent peer review process to ensure the quality, originality, and academic integrity of all published research.

1. Review Type: Double-Blind Peer Review

AJREF uses a double-blind peer review system, where:

  • Authors do not know the reviewers’ identities.

  • Reviewers do not know the authors’ identities.

This approach ensures fairness and minimizes bias.

2. Initial Screening

All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial evaluation by the Editor-in-Chief or Managing Editor to check:

  • Relevance to the journal scope

  • Originality and significance

  • Compliance with submission guidelines

  • Basic language and formatting requirements

  • Similarity index / plagiarism check

Manuscripts failing to meet these criteria may be rejected before peer review.

3. Reviewer Selection

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are assigned to two independent expert reviewers with relevant academic expertise. Reviewers are selected based on:

  • Subject specialization

  • Research experience

  • Absence of conflicts of interest

In rare cases, a third reviewer may be invited.

4. Review Process

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on:

  • Originality and contribution to knowledge

  • Theoretical and methodological rigor

  • Quality of data analysis

  • Clarity of presentation

  • Relevance to economics and finance

  • Ethical standards

Reviewers provide detailed comments and recommendations (Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject).

5. Revision and Resubmission

Authors receiving revision requests must address all reviewer comments and submit a revised manuscript within the given timeframe. Revised manuscripts may be sent back to the original reviewers for further evaluation.

6. Final Decision

The Editor-in-Chief makes the final publication decision based on:

  • Reviewer recommendations

  • Quality of revisions

  • Overall academic contribution

This decision is final and communicated to authors promptly.

7. Confidentiality

All manuscripts and review reports are treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not share or use the content for any purpose other than evaluation.

8. Conflict of Interest

Reviewers and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest. If a conflict exists, the reviewer will be replaced to maintain integrity and impartiality.

9. Review Timeline

AJREF strives to complete the review process within 4–6 weeks, ensuring timely decisions while maintaining thorough evaluation standards.

10. Recognition of Reviewers

The journal acknowledges the valuable contributions of its reviewers and may publish an annual list of reviewers who supported the peer review process.