Review Process Policy

Research articles submitted to INCOME undergo editorial screening followed, where suitable, by double-blind peer review by two subject experts. Authors and reviewers are not routinely informed of each other's identities. Editors and authorized editorial staff have access to identity information needed to manage submissions.

Initial editorial assessment

The editor checks scope, contribution, completeness, methodological suitability, readability, and compliance with submission and ethics requirements. A manuscript may be declined without external review or returned for preliminary improvements when it does not meet these requirements.

Independent review

Reviewers are selected for relevant expertise and absence of relevant competing interests. They assess the research question, relationship to existing work, design, analysis, interpretation, transparency, and contribution. Supporting files that are necessary to assess the study are considered with the manuscript. Reviewers should identify limitations and explain their recommendations respectfully.

Authors must supply an anonymized review file. The journal takes reasonable measures to preserve anonymity, although content, self-citations, or publicly available versions may allow identities to be inferred. Review reports are communicated to authors without reviewer names and are not routinely published with the article.

Decisions and revision

The handling editor considers the reports and may request additional expertise if reports conflict or important questions remain. Possible decisions are rejection, major revision, minor revision, or acceptance. Review recommendations inform the decision; the responsible editor makes the publication decision.

A revision must include a point-by-point response and a revised manuscript. Substantial changes may be returned to reviewers. An invitation to revise does not guarantee acceptance. The editor may decline a manuscript when concerns remain unresolved.

Fairness, confidentiality, and timing

Reviewers must decline assignments that exceed their expertise or available time and must declare relevant interests. Manuscripts and reports must not be shared or used for personal purposes. Editors with relevant conflicts are excluded from handling the submission.

Review time depends on reviewer availability, the study's complexity, and the extent of revision. The journal does not promise acceptance or a fixed completion time. Authors may contact the editorial office about a delayed submission.