Publication Ethics

CONFLUENCE: Journal of Business, Economics & Governance is committed to safeguarding scholarly integrity, transparency, and accountability throughout the publication process. This publication ethics policy is informed by the COPE Core Practices and COPE guidance for handling potential publication misconduct.

1. Authors’ Responsibilities

Authors must ensure that:

  • The manuscript is original and free from plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, and data manipulation.

  • The work is not under consideration elsewhere and has not been published previously (no duplicate submission/publication).

  • Authorship accurately reflects substantial contributions, and all authors approve the final version.

  • Sources, citations, figures, and tables are properly acknowledged, with permissions obtained when required.

  • Any conflicts of interest (financial and/or non-financial) are clearly disclosed.

  • For studies involving human participants/organizations, appropriate approvals and informed consent are obtained in accordance with applicable research ethics standards.

2. Editors’ Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for:

  • Making fair and unbiased decisions based on scholarly merit, without discrimination.

  • Maintaining confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and related communications.

  • Managing conflicts of interest and ensuring an objective peer review process.

  • Issuing editorial decisions (accept/revise/reject) grounded in reviewers’ reports and academic quality.

  • Addressing suspected misconduct by applying COPE guidance and decision pathways where appropriate.

3. Reviewers’ Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations.

  • Treat manuscripts as confidential and refrain from using unpublished material for personal advantage.

  • Declare any conflicts of interest or decline review if expertise is insufficient.

  • Alert the editor to potential ethical concerns (e.g., plagiarism, redundant publication, unethical research practices).

4. Handling Allegations of Misconduct

When allegations arise (e.g., plagiarism, data issues, authorship disputes, undisclosed conflicts), the journal will conduct a structured assessment. The editorial team may follow COPE Flowcharts to ensure a proportionate, consistent, and fair response. 

5. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

The journal is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. Post-publication amendments—such as corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern—may be issued when warranted by the nature and severity of the issue, guided by COPE’s post-publication recommendations, including the Retraction Guidelines. 

6. Complaints and Appeals

Authors may submit complaints or appeals in writing through the journal’s official channel. The journal will handle them professionally and transparently, documenting the process in line with recognized principles of publication ethics and good editorial governance.