Guidelines for Special Issues

The Journal of Economic Geography (JoEG) welcomes Special Issue Proposals that fit with the interdisciplinary journal’s aims and scope and significantly contribute to current debates and research in economic geography, with particular attention to diverse and inclusive teams of contributors. Proposals should be submitted to the JoEG Editors (Economics or/and Geography) and will be evaluated twice a year, closing dates are 1st of May and 1st of November. Themes for Special Issues in economic geography may involve new theoretical and conceptual approaches, or their substantial advancements, and may launch new or understudied areas of empirical research.

Proposals are reviewed against criteria based on innovative content, academic rigour, relevance and impact by the Editors and revisions may be requested before they are accepted. All Special Issues must be approved in advance and, even when accepted, the final published content remains subject to the peer review of the individual contributions. Special Issues are expected to assemble a coherent set of articles that aim to move the understanding of a topic forward empirically and theoretically. Guest editors will be required to host an open call for papers as part of the journal's commitment to ensuring diversity and inclusion, but a list of pre-selected papers (e.g. a set of conference papers) may also be included in the initial proposal.

All Special Issue paper submissions will undergo a full review process. The guest editors may organize a paper development workshops or conference around the Special Issue, as long as they guarantee that the Special Issue remains open to submissions from authors not able to attend these events.

The team of Guest Editors for a Special Issue will be overseen by one JoEG Editor, after the SI Proposal has been approved. All guest editors need to adhere to JoEG’s high standards of scholarly review. It is important to note that Guest Editors are not permitted to publish more than one paper in the Special Issue apart from the editorial introduction, nor may they commission content without the prior agreement of the designated JoEG Editor in charge of the Special Issue.

Proposing a Special Issue

Special Issue Proposals should be sent via email to the relevant JoEG Editors, and should be approximately 5 pages long, excluding cover letter, references and bios.

Special Issue Proposals should contain:

1. Lists of proposed guest editors (with bios in the Appendix including details of relevant academic track record: max 500 words per guest editor)

2. Call for papers, including: provisional title, main keywords (up to 5), description and justification of the topic, objectives and scope of the Special Issue, a list of core questions to be addressed, number of papers expected and a proposed timeline.

3. Evidence of how the Special Issue will fit the goals of JoEG and significantly contribute to current debates and research in economic geography (e.g. through appropriate citations to be included in the Appendix), and how the call for papers will be disseminated in order to reach potential contributors beyond existing networks

4. Details on pre-selected papers (whether this is the case): how they are sourced (e.g. a conference or seminar), authors and affiliation, title, abstract

5.  Evidence that the Special Issue will attract broad interest and receive meaningful citations (e.g., list of representative set of scholars who may be interested in submitting and/or acting as potential reviewers for the Special Issue).

JoEG Editors will select Special Issue Proposals on the basis of their potential contribution to debates in emerging or contested areas of research in economic geography. A significant factor in the decision to accept a Special Issue Proposal is the diversity and inclusive nature of the guest editorial team, the Call for papers and the potential contributors. JoEG Editors reserves the right to propose changes and/or additions to the Special Issue Proposal, and ask for its revision in order to maximize its impact and fit with the journal.