Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Sustainable Economics & Business Review (SEBR) is a peer-reviewed, open-access academic journal committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. The journal aims to ensure that all published articles contribute responsibly, transparently, and ethically to the advancement of knowledge in sustainable economics and business studies.

This publication ethics statement is adapted from and aligned with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Best Practice Guidelines. SEBR applies these principles to all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

SEBR values originality, academic rigor, honesty, fairness, and accountability at every stage of the publication process. These principles are essential to maintaining trust in scholarly communication and preserving the integrity of the academic record.

Duties of Editors

Publication Decisions

Editors are responsible for deciding which submitted manuscripts are suitable for publication. Decisions are based on the manuscript’s academic merit, originality, clarity, methodological soundness, and relevance to SEBR’s focus and scope. All manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer-review process involving at least two independent reviewers. Editorial decisions are free from commercial influence or personal bias.

Fair Play

Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on their intellectual content without discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, political beliefs, or institutional affiliation. Editorial independence is strictly maintained.

Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents. Information regarding a submission must not be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, or editorial advisors, as appropriate.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Editors must not handle manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, financial, or other relationships. Any editor with a conflict of interest must recuse themselves from the review process.

Management of Ethical Misconduct

SEBR follows COPE procedures in handling allegations of misconduct, including plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication, unethical research practices, or authorship disputes. When necessary, corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern will be issued to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Use of AI by Editors

Editors are prohibited from uploading unpublished manuscripts to generative AI tools or large language models (LLMs). Manuscripts are considered confidential intellectual property, and misuse may violate ethical and legal standards.

Duties of Authors

AI Usage in Manuscript Preparation

Authors may use AI tools for language editing or grammar improvement, provided such use is clearly disclosed in the manuscript. AI tools may not be listed as authors and may not generate core ideas, analyses, or conclusions. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their work.

Reporting Standards

Authors must present their research accurately and transparently. Sufficient detail should be provided to allow replication of the study. Fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of data constitutes unethical behavior.

Data Access and Retention

Authors should retain research data for a reasonable period and provide access upon editorial request. Where appropriate, authors are encouraged to deposit data in reputable repositories to promote transparency.