The Journal of Applied Economics in Developing Countries (JAEDC) aims to provide an international academic platform for research in economics, business, and management, particularly in developing countries. The journal publishes original research on economics, business, and management, with particular emphasis on economic issues, policies, and developments in developing countries. It welcomes theoretical, empirical, and applied studies addressing economic, business, and policy challenges in developing countries.

Journal of Applied Economics in Developing Countries (JAEDC) welcomes original research and current studies in the following areas:

1. Development and Regional Economics
   Studies on economic development, regional development, spatial economics, regional disparities, local economic development, and development planning.
2. Macroeconomics and Economic Policy
   Studies on macroeconomic performance, fiscal policy, monetary economics, inflation, economic growth, and macroeconomic policy.
3. Public and Institutional Economics
   Studies on public policy, public economics, governance, institutions, institutional development, and the economic role of government.
4. International and Financial Economics
   Studies on international trade, international finance, financial markets, financial institutions, exchange rates, and financial economic issues.
5. Poverty, Inequality, Labor, and Health Economics
   Studies on poverty, inequality, employment, labor markets, human resources, health economics, and socioeconomic welfare.
6. Industrial, Business, and Entrepreneurship Studies
   Studies on industrial economics, business development, entrepreneurship, creative and innovative enterprises, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and business management.
7. Digital Economics
   Studies on digital transformation, digital markets, digital finance, digital business models, technology adoption, and the economic implications of digitalization.
8. Sustainable, Circular, and Environmental Economics
   Studies on sustainable economic development, circular economy, environmental economics, green and blue economics, natural resources, environmental and ecosystem services, and sustainable resource management.

Contributions from related disciplines are also welcome where they provide relevant insights into economic, business, or management issues in developing countries.

The Journal of Applied Economics in Developing Countries (JAEDC) applies a double-blind peer-review process to ensure an objective, rigorous, and transparent assessment of submitted manuscripts. All submitted Research Articles and Review Articles first undergo an initial technical and editorial screening by the editorial team to assess their relevance to the journal’s scope, compliance with submission guidelines and journal formatting requirements, completeness of the submission, and plagiarism or text similarity using Turnitin. This initial screening is completed within a maximum of one month from the date of submission.

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening and are considered suitable for further consideration are assigned to an Editor and forwarded to at least two independent reviewers selected based on their expertise and relevant scholarly experience. The identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed from each other throughout the review process. In cases where reviewers provide conflicting recommendations or where additional assessment is considered necessary, the Editor may invite additional independent reviewers.

The Editor may decline a manuscript without external peer review when it is clearly outside the journal’s scope, does not meet the journal’s basic submission requirements, or has substantial issues that prevent it from proceeding to peer review. However, an acceptance decision cannot be made solely on the basis of the initial editorial screening. Manuscripts that proceed to external peer review are assessed by the assigned reviewers before an editorial decision on publication is made.

Reviewers are expected to maintain strict confidentiality throughout the peer-review process and must treat all submitted materials as confidential. Reviewers must not disclose, copy, distribute, or otherwise use any part of the manuscript or unpublished information for purposes unrelated to the review without appropriate authorization. Reviewers are also expected to disclose any potential conflict of interest to the Editor and should not participate in the review where such a conflict may affect the objectivity of their assessment.

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts according to criteria appropriate to the submitted article type. For Research Articles, the assessment may consider the originality and contribution of the research, relevance to the journal’s scope, clarity of the research problem and objectives, adequacy of the theoretical or conceptual framework, appropriateness and rigor of the methodology, quality of data and analysis, validity of the findings, discussion and interpretation, clarity of presentation, and adherence to applicable academic and ethical standards. For Review Articles, the assessment may consider the relevance and clarity of the review topic, adequacy and appropriateness of the literature covered, clarity of the review objectives or questions, appropriateness and transparency of the review method where applicable, quality of critical synthesis and analysis, identification of relevant patterns, gaps, debates, or developments in the literature, originality and contribution of the review, clarity of presentation, and adherence to applicable academic and ethical standards.

Reviewers are expected to complete their evaluations within a maximum of one month from the date they are assigned the manuscript by the Editor. Reviewers are encouraged to provide objective, constructive, and sufficiently detailed comments that can assist authors in improving their manuscripts. If a reviewer is unable to complete the assessment within the specified timeframe, the Editor may contact the reviewer regarding the delay, seek an alternative reviewer, or invite an additional reviewer when necessary.

Once the required reviews have been received, the Editor carefully considers the reviewers’ comments and recommendations together with the overall quality, relevance, and suitability of the manuscript. Reviewer recommendations may include Accept Submission, Revisions Required, Resubmit for Review, Resubmit Elsewhere, Decline Submission, or See Comments. These recommendations are advisory and do not constitute the final publication decision. The Editor may issue an Accept Submission, Revisions Required, Resubmit for Review, or Decline Submission decision based on the reviewers’ assessments and the Editor’s own evaluation of the manuscript.

If revisions are requested, authors are expected to address the reviewers’ and Editor’s comments thoroughly and submit a revised manuscript within two (2) months from the date the revision request is sent. A revised manuscript may be returned to the original reviewers or assigned to additional reviewers when further assessment is considered necessary. The subsequent editorial decision is made after consideration of the revised manuscript, the authors’ responses, and, where applicable, the reviewers’ further recommendations.

Any manuscript that has received a Revisions Required decision but is not resubmitted within two (2) months from the date the revision request was sent will be considered withdrawn by the author(s). If neither a revised manuscript nor an extension request is received within this period, the manuscript will be automatically declined and will not proceed to the next stage of the editorial process. Authors who require additional time should contact the editorial team and request an extension before the revision deadline.

The final decision regarding publication rests with the Editor, taking into account the reviewers’ assessments, the quality and suitability of the manuscript, the authors’ responses to reviewer comments where applicable, and the journal’s editorial and ethical standards. The editorial decision is communicated to the corresponding author through the journal’s submission system or official editorial communication channel. This peer-review policy is implemented to maintain the quality, integrity, confidentiality, efficiency, and fairness of the publication process for all authors and reviewers.