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  Cluster 7: Finance, Accounting & Economics

Best Journals for Economic Policy Studies (2026)

Economic policy research examines how government fiscal decisions, central bank monetary actions, trade policies, and regulatory frameworks shape economic outcomes — growth, inflation, employment, inequality, and development. With global economies navigating unprecedented challenges from climate transition to AI disruption, rigorous, timely economic policy research has never been more urgently needed.

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What to Look for When Choosing a Journal

Before submitting your research, evaluate journals on these key criteria:

  • Policy relevance — research with direct implications for government economic decision-making
  • Empirical rigour — econometric evaluations of policy effectiveness with causal identification
  • Open access to reach policymakers, central bankers, and development economists
  • Fast review for policy research tied to active reform and budget cycles
  • International and comparative scope — cross-country policy evaluations
  • Development economics focus — research on emerging markets and low-income countries

Recommended Journals — Cluster 7: Finance, Accounting & Economics

All journals below are published by Keith Publications — open access, peer-reviewed, and indexed for global discoverability.

  • Journal of Financial Economics and Management (JFEM)

    Financial economics, corporate finance, investment management, financial markets, monetary policy, and the economics of financial systems and institutions.

    Review: 2–3 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Financial Economics Corporate Finance Investment Management Financial Markets
  • Journal of Accounting and Financial Reporting (JAFR)

    Financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, corporate governance, financial reporting standards, and the intersection of accounting with regulation and public policy.

    Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Financial Accounting Auditing Corporate Governance Financial Reporting
  • International Journal of Banking and Financial Services (IJBFS)

    Banking systems, financial services regulation, fintech, digital banking, risk management, financial inclusion, and the stability of global financial institutions.

    Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Banking Systems Financial Services Fintech Risk Management
  • Economics and Social Policy Research Journal (ESPRJ)

    Applied economics, development economics, fiscal and monetary policy, social policy evaluation, labour economics, and the economics of welfare, health, and education.

    Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Applied Economics Development Economics Fiscal Policy Social Policy

Fast Publication: All Keith Publications journals complete initial review within 2–5 business days and full peer review within 2–4 weeks. Articles are published online within 5–10 days of acceptance — making us one of the fastest open access publishers in finance, accounting, and economics.

Core Research Areas in Economic Policy Studies

Keith Publications economic policy journals accept research on: fiscal policy effectiveness — government spending multipliers, tax incidence, and public debt sustainability; monetary policy — interest rate policy, quantitative easing, inflation targeting, and central bank communication; trade policy — tariff impacts, regional trade agreements, and trade war economic consequences; labour market policy — minimum wage effects, unemployment insurance, and active labour market programmes; social protection — social assistance effectiveness, conditional cash transfer evaluations, and pension reform; industrial and competition policy; climate change economics and carbon pricing; digital economy regulation; and economic policy in developing countries and emerging markets.

Economic Policy Research and Global Development

Economic policy research is especially important in developing countries, where evidence-based policy design can mean the difference between sustainable development and repeated economic crisis. Keith Publications Economics and Social Policy Research Journal (ESPRJ) actively prioritises research on economic policy challenges in Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East — regions often underrepresented in leading economics journals. Open access publication ensures this research reaches the policymakers, development agencies, and civil society organisations in these regions where it is most needed.

Tips to Maximise Your Acceptance Chances

  1. Align your topic with the journal's scope — confirm your research fits the journal's finance, accounting, or economics focus area.
  2. Establish clear research questions — finance and economics editors expect precise, testable hypotheses or well-defined research questions.
  3. Address endogeneity and identification — be explicit about your causal identification strategy and its limitations.
  4. Use appropriate data and methodology — match your econometric or quantitative methods to your research question and data structure.
  5. Follow formatting guidelines exactly — non-compliant manuscripts are often desk-rejected without review.
  6. State practical and policy implications — explain how your findings inform investors, regulators, policymakers, or practitioners.
  7. Ensure robust robustness checks — include alternative specifications, subsample analyses, and placebo tests to strengthen your empirical claims.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which journals are best for economic policy research?
The Economics and Social Policy Research Journal (ESPRJ) and Journal of Financial Economics and Management (JFEM) from Keith Publications are among the best for economic policy studies, covering fiscal policy, monetary policy, development economics, and social policy evaluation.
Can I publish research on fiscal stimulus and government spending effectiveness?
Yes. Research on fiscal multipliers, the effectiveness of stimulus packages, crowding out effects of public investment, and the macroeconomic implications of government spending and taxation is within scope for ESPRJ and JFEM.
Is research on monetary policy and central banking accepted?
Yes. Research on central bank independence, inflation targeting, quantitative easing, unconventional monetary policy tools, forward guidance, and the macroeconomic effects of interest rate decisions is within scope for Keith Publications economics journals.
How quickly can economic policy research be published at Keith Publications?
Keith Publications journals complete initial screening within 2–5 business days and full peer review within 2–4 weeks — fast enough for policy researchers working on time-sensitive reform and budget cycle contexts.

Ready to Publish Your Research?

Submit your finance, accounting, or economics manuscript to Keith Publications today. Fast peer review, open access, and global indexing — get your work published within weeks.

Submit Your Manuscript Now Contact the Editorial Team