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  Cluster 7: Finance, Accounting & Economics

Best Journals for Tax and Fiscal Policy Research (2026)

Tax and fiscal policy research examines how governments raise revenue, how tax systems affect economic behaviour and equity, how public expenditure decisions are made, and how fiscal policy influences macroeconomic stability. From optimal tax theory and corporate tax avoidance to VAT design and fiscal federalism, this research field informs some of the most consequential policy decisions governments make.

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What to Look for When Choosing a Journal

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

  • Tax and fiscal scope — income tax, corporate tax, VAT, wealth taxes, and public expenditure
  • Policy relevance — research informing tax reform, fiscal consolidation, and redistribution policy
  • Open access to reach tax authorities, finance ministries, and tax reform advocates
  • Fast review for time-sensitive fiscal policy research tied to budget cycles
  • Acceptance of tax incidence, behavioural response, and distributional analysis
  • International tax scope — tax avoidance, transfer pricing, and global minimum tax research

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 Tax and Fiscal Policy

Keith Publications tax and fiscal policy journals accept research on: optimal taxation theory — Ramsey taxation, second-best tax systems, and optimal redistribution; corporate taxation — tax avoidance, transfer pricing, profit shifting, and base erosion; personal income taxation — labour supply effects, income distribution, and progressivity; consumption taxes — VAT design, regressive effects, and tax evasion; wealth and inheritance taxation — distributional effects and capital accumulation; fiscal federalism — tax assignment, intergovernmental fiscal transfers, and decentralisation; tax evasion and tax compliance — deterrence, enforcement, and tax morale; the global minimum tax and OECD BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) initiative; and public expenditure management, budgetary processes, and fiscal rules.

The Political Economy of Tax Reform

Tax reform is among the most politically contested areas of economic policy — because every tax system creates winners and losers, and because tax incidence often diverges dramatically from statutory incidence. Research on the political economy of tax reform, the lobbying behaviour of corporations and wealthy individuals in shaping tax legislation, the distributional consequences of tax cuts, and the fiscal sociology of tax compliance provides essential context for understanding why economically optimal tax systems are so rarely adopted. Keith Publications welcomes political economy perspectives on taxation alongside conventional public finance research.

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 tax and fiscal policy research?
The Economics and Social Policy Research Journal (ESPRJ) and Journal of Accounting and Financial Reporting (JAFR) from Keith Publications are among the best for tax and fiscal policy research, covering tax avoidance, fiscal policy, public finance, and the distributional effects of taxation.
Can I publish research on corporate tax avoidance and profit shifting?
Yes. Research on corporate tax avoidance strategies, transfer pricing manipulation, profit shifting to tax havens, the OECD BEPS agenda, and the global minimum tax is within scope for Keith Publications tax and accounting journals.
Is research on wealth taxes and inheritance taxation accepted?
Yes. Research on the design and effects of wealth taxes, estate and inheritance taxes, their distributional implications, capital accumulation effects, and political economy of wealth tax proposals is within scope for Keith Publications economics journals.
How quickly can tax and fiscal 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 tax researchers working on budget cycle and policy consultation timelines.

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