Does my paper need to be empirical?
No. We welcome empirical, theoretical, and policy-focused papers. The nature, format, and co-authorship of your submission are at your discretion.
There is no peer review at the submission stage; it is up to the submitting faculty member to judge suitability. As a guide, ask yourself:
Would I submit this manuscript (in its current or revised form) to a top journal in your field such as the Journal of Economic Geography, Journal of Urban Economics, Economic Geography, or Regional Studies?
If yes, the paper is appropriate for our series. Reviewing past papers can also help you gauge typical styles and stages of development.
Can students be co-authors?
Yes. All contributors should be listed as authors. The only requirement is that an eligible member of the Department (see guidelines) is among the authors and responsible for the paper.
Is there a word limit?
There is no fixed word limit. Most papers are around 8,000 words (as most journal articles), but length is at the author’s discretion. The key is that the manuscript meets the standards of a fully developed academic paper suitable for submission to a leading journal.
Where can I find examples of past Discussion Papers?
You can browse previous papers on our website to see the range of formats, topics, and lengths we publish.
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