Journal of Economic Literature

Journal of Economic Literature. It is a premier peer-reviewed academic journal published by the American Economic Association that specializes in publishing comprehensive survey and review articles across all fields of economics. Established in 1963, it serves as a vital resource for synthesizing and evaluating the vast body of economic research, providing authoritative overviews of scholarly literature. The journal is renowned for its rigorous editorial standards and its role in shaping economic discourse through its influential articles and its classification system for economic literature.

History and background

The journal was launched in 1963, evolving from the earlier Journal of Economic Abstracts, with the explicit mission to provide systematic reviews of economic scholarship. Its creation was driven by the American Economic Association under the leadership of figures like Joseph A. Pechman to address the growing need for synthesis in an expanding discipline. A landmark development was the introduction of the JEL classification codes in 1969, a standardized system for categorizing economic literature that has become ubiquitous in the field. Over the decades, editors such as Mark Perlman and John McMillan have guided its development, solidifying its reputation as an essential publication for economists worldwide.

Content and scope

The primary content consists of lengthy review articles, often commissioned from leading experts, that synthesize and critique the research on major topics like monetary policy, international trade, or behavioral economics. It also features shorter book reviews, assessments of significant new works by economists such as Thomas Piketty or Esther Duflo, and occasional annotated bibliographies. The scope is deliberately broad, covering all sub-disciplines from labor economics and econometrics to economic history and development economics, ensuring it reflects the entire spectrum of the profession. Unlike journals publishing original empirical research, it focuses on interpretation, evaluation, and consolidation of existing knowledge.

Abstracting and indexing

The publication is abstracted and indexed in a comprehensive array of major academic databases, ensuring global discoverability for researchers. Key services that cover it include Scopus, the Social Sciences Citation Index, and EconLit, the primary bibliographic database of the American Economic Association. It is also included in JSTOR, which provides digital archival access to its complete back catalog, and listings in services like Academic Search Premier and Google Scholar. This extensive indexing underscores its central role in the scholarly communication ecosystem of economics and related fields like political science and sociology.

Impact and recognition

It is consistently ranked among the most influential journals in economics, with a very high impact factor as reported by the Journal Citation Reports. Articles published within it are highly cited and often become definitive reference points for graduate education at institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago. The journal and its editors have been recognized through various accolades within the profession, contributing significantly to the careers of prominent economists. Its prestige is reflected in its role in informing policy debates at organizations like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Editorial process

The editorial process is overseen by a managing editor, a position held by notable economists including Janet Currie and the current editor, Luigi Zingales of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Submission of review articles typically occurs by invitation, though proposals are also considered, and all manuscripts undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process involving experts from institutions like Harvard University or the London School of Economics. The editorial board, composed of distinguished scholars, provides strategic guidance and assists in identifying critical topics and potential authors for comprehensive literature surveys.

Related publications

It is part of a family of journals published by the American Economic Association, which includes the flagship American Economic Review, the Journal of Economic Perspectives, and the American Economic Journal series. While the Journal of Economic Perspectives also features accessible survey articles aimed at a broader audience, this journal maintains a more specialized, comprehensive, and research-oriented focus. Other notable review journals in the field include Annual Review of Economics and Foundations and Trends in Econometrics, but it is distinguished by its official association role and the universal adoption of its classification system. Category:American Economic Association journals Category:Economics journals Category:Publications established in 1963 Category:Quarterly journals