Post-Publication Discussion, Corrections and Retractions

Publication does not end scholarly discussion. INCOME welcomes evidence-based comments and takes reasonable steps to correct the published record when an error or integrity concern is established.

Discussion and author replies

Send a scholarly comment to the editorial office, identifying the article title or DOI and explaining the issue with supporting evidence. Comments should address the research, use respectful language, and disclose relevant competing interests.

Editors assess relevance and substance, may seek independent advice, and normally invite the original authors to reply. Comments and replies accepted for publication should be linked to the article. Author disagreement or failure to reply does not automatically prevent publication of a substantiated critique. The email route is available even when the website has no public commenting feature.

Corrections

A correction is appropriate when an error affects interpretation or the accuracy of the record but the principal findings remain reliable. The notice identifies the affected article, explains the error and correction, and is linked to the article. Substantive changes must not be made silently. Minor typographic changes that do not affect meaning may be handled editorially.

Expressions of concern

An expression of concern may be published when a serious question about reliability or ethical conduct remains unresolved, an investigation is ongoing, or available evidence does not yet support a definitive decision. The notice explains the concern and is updated when further findings justify action.

Retractions

Retraction may be necessary when findings are unreliable because of major error, fabrication, or falsification; when substantial plagiarism or unjustified duplicate publication is established; when research is seriously unethical; or when manipulation has compromised the publication process.

The editor evaluates evidence, seeks relevant author responses, and may consult institutions or independent experts. Retraction protects the reliability of the literature; it is not reserved for proven intentional misconduct, and author consent is not required when the evidence warrants action.

A retraction notice identifies the article and who is retracting it, states the reasons clearly, and records the date. The article remains identifiable and normally accessible, clearly marked as retracted and linked to the notice. Exceptional removal of content requires a documented justification, such as a serious privacy or rights issue, while preserving an appropriate bibliographic record and explanatory notice.

Withdrawal before publication

Authors requesting withdrawal of an unpublished submission should contact the editor, give the reason, and provide confirmation of agreement from all authors. Until withdrawal is confirmed, authors should not assume that processing has ended. Withdrawal of an unpublished manuscript is distinct from retraction of a published article.

Reporting an issue

Provide the article DOI or submission identifier, a concise explanation, and verifiable evidence. Authors who discover a significant error must notify the journal promptly and cooperate with its assessment. Concerns are considered on their evidence regardless of the reporter's institutional position.