STATEMENT ON PUBLICATION ETHICS AND PUBLICATION MALPRACTICE
Economic Prosperity: Journal of Commerce and Management is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Team, and the publisher. It is prepared in accordance with the Best Practice Guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
DUTIES OF EDITORS
Decision on the Publication of Articles
The Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Team bear the primary responsibility for determining which submitted manuscripts are accepted for publication, following a rigorous double-blind peer review process. Such decisions are guided by the journal’s established editorial policies and are made in strict compliance with applicable legal and ethical standards, including those relating to libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.
The integrity and independence of the peer review process are strictly maintained. The Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Team do not exert any influence over reviewers involved in the blind evaluation of manuscripts. All submissions are assessed solely on academic merit, ensuring objectivity, impartiality, and fairness.
Fair Play
The Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Team ensure that all manuscripts are evaluated exclusively on the basis of their intellectual content and scholarly merit. No discrimination shall be made on the grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.
Confidentiality
The Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Team must maintain strict confidentiality regarding all submitted manuscripts. Information related to a manuscript shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, prospective reviewers, and other authorized parties, as appropriate.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
The Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Team shall not use unpublished materials disclosed in submitted manuscripts for their own research or personal benefit without the explicit written consent of the author. All editorial decisions must remain free from conflicts of interest.
DUTIES OF REVIEWERS
Contribution of Double-Blind Peer Review
The double-blind peer review process supports the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Team in making fair and informed publication decisions and assists authors in improving the quality of their manuscripts. In this system, the identities of both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to ensure impartiality. All identifying details are removed prior to review, and reviewer comments are treated confidentially and shared anonymously. The identities of reviewers are known only to the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Team.
Promptness
Reviewers are expected to complete their evaluations within the stipulated timeframe. If a reviewer considers themselves unqualified or unable to provide a timely review, they should promptly inform the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Team and withdraw from the review process.
Confidentiality
Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not disclose or discuss the manuscript with others except as authorized by the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Team.
Standards of Objectivity
Reviews should be conducted objectively and professionally. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Reviewers should provide clear, constructive, and well-supported feedback.
Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. They should also inform the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Team of any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript and other known works.
Conflict of Interest
Reviewers must not evaluate manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest arising from competitive, collaborative, or personal relationships. Such conflicts should be disclosed to the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Team.
DUTIES OF AUTHORS
Reporting Standards
Authors must present an accurate and objective account of their research. The data should be reported truthfully, and the manuscript should contain sufficient detail to allow replication. Any form of falsification or misrepresentation is unethical and unacceptable.
Data Access and Retention
Authors may be required to provide raw data for editorial review and should be prepared to make such data accessible where feasible. They should retain the data for a reasonable period after publication.
Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must ensure that their work is original. Proper acknowledgment must be given when using the work or ideas of others. Plagiarism in any form is unethical and unacceptable.
Multiple, Duplicate, Redundant or Concurrent Submission/Publication
Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously or publish substantially similar work in multiple journals.
Acknowledgment of Sources
Authors must properly acknowledge all sources that have influenced their work. Information obtained through private communication must not be used without written permission.
Authorship of the Paper
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the research. All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript. Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.
Acknowledgment of Funding Sources
All sources of financial support for the research must be clearly disclosed in the manuscript.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial or other conflicts of interest that could influence the results or interpretation of their work.
Fundamental Errors in Published Works
If an author discovers a significant error in their published work, they must promptly inform the Editor-in-Chief and cooperate in correcting or retracting the paper.
Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects
Authors must clearly identify any hazardous procedures or materials used in their research. Studies involving human or animal subjects must comply with ethical standards and approvals.
DUTIES OF THE PUBLISHER
Handling of Unethical Publishing Behaviour
In cases of suspected or confirmed misconduct, including plagiarism or fraudulent publication, the publisher, in close coordination with the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Team, shall take appropriate action. This may include issuing corrections, clarifications, or retractions. The publisher is committed to preventing unethical practices and maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.
Access to Journal Content
The publisher ensures the long-term preservation and accessibility of all published content. Through appropriate archiving and collaboration with indexing agencies, the publisher guarantees that scholarly work remains available to the academic community and the public.
