How can you select the best publication outlet for your quantitative research in Economics?

1 Identify your target audience

The first step is to identify who you want to reach with your research. Do you aim to contribute to a specific subfield of Economics, or to a broader interdisciplinary audience? Do you want to inform policy makers, practitioners, or the general public? Depending on your audience, you may need to adjust the style, language, and format of your paper. For example, if you want to appeal to a non-specialist audience, you may need to use more plain language, avoid jargon, and provide more context and explanation.

2 Assess the quality and impact of outlets

The second step is to assess the quality and impact of different outlets. Quality refers to the academic standards and reputation of the outlet, such as the peer-review process, the editorial board, and the citation metrics. Impact refers to the visibility and reach of the outlet, such as the readership, the download and share statistics, and the media coverage. You can use various tools and databases to compare and evaluate different outlets, such as Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Journal Citation Reports, and Altmetric.

3 Consider the accessibility and dissemination of outlets

The third step is to consider the accessibility and dissemination of different outlets. Accessibility refers to the ease and cost of accessing and publishing your paper, such as the subscription fees, the open access policies, and the copyright and licensing agreements. Dissemination refers to the promotion and distribution of your paper, such as the social media presence, the newsletter, and the podcast of the outlet. You can check the websites and policies of different outlets to find out more about their accessibility and dissemination options.

5 Seek feedback and advice from peers and mentors

The fifth step is to seek feedback and advice from peers and mentors. Peers and mentors are people who have experience and expertise in your field and topic, such as your colleagues, supervisors, or collaborators. They can offer you valuable insights and suggestions on your paper and your outlet choice. You can ask them for their opinions, recommendations, and critiques on your paper and your potential outlets. You can also look at their publication records and see where they have published their work.

6 Make a decision and submit your paper

The final step is to make a decision and submit your paper. After you have followed the previous steps, you should have a shortlist of possible outlets for your paper. You can weigh the pros and cons of each outlet and select the one that best meets your goals and expectations. You can then prepare your paper according to the outlet's specifications and submit it through the outlet's online system. You can also track the progress and status of your paper and respond to any feedback or revisions from the outlet.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?