About the Journal
The World Bank journals enjoy the largest circulation of any economics title; the Research Observer is freely distributed to more than 9,100 subscribers in non-OECD countries.
The World Bank Research Observer seeks to inform nonspecialist readers about research being undertaken within the Bank and outside the Bank in areas of economics relevant for development policy. Requiring only a minimal background in economic analysis, its surveys and overviews of key issues in development economics research are intended for policymakers, project officers, journalists keeping up to date, and teachers and students of development economics and related disciplines. Papers for the Observer are not sent out to referees, but all articles published are assessed and approved by the Editorial Board, which includes three to four distinguished economists from outside the Bank. The Observer has nearly 1,500 subscribers in OECD countries and nearly 10,000 subscribers in developing countries.
Impact Factor and Ranking
| Year | Impact Factor | Ssi: Economics | Ssi: Development Studies | Ssi: Planning & Development |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 8.7 | 8 out of 597 | 2 out of 63 | |
| 2022 | 8.1 | 16 out of 380 | 3 out of 42 | n/a |
| 2021 | 3.778 | 97 out of 379 | 11 out of 42 | n/a |
| 2020 | 5.111 | 33 out of 377 | 8 out of 41 | n/a |
| 2019 | 3.5 | 41 out of 371 | 7 out of 41 | n/a |
| 2018 | 1.833 | 112 out of 363 | 17 out of 41 | n/a |
| 2017 | 2.0 | 82 out of 353 | n/a | 22 out of 57 |
| 2016 | 2.150 | 58 out of 347 | n/a | 13 out of 55 |
| 2015 | 1.667 | 70 out of 345 | n/a | 13 out of 55 |
| 2014 | 1.190 | 112 out of 333 | n/a | 24 out of 55 |
| 2013 | 2.100 | 47 out of 332 | n/a | 6 out of 55 |
| 2012 | 2.045 | 45 out of 332 | n/a | 8 out of 55 |
| 2011 | 1.409 | 75 out of 320 | n/a | 16 out of 54 |
| 2010 | 1.474 | 65 out of 304 | n/a | 11 out of 47 |
| 2009 | 1.474 | 50 out of 245 | n/a | 8 out of 44 |
| 2008 | 0.650 | 125 out of 209 | n/a | 29 out of 43 |
| 2007 | 1.700 | 16 out of 191 | n/a | 3 out of 38 |
| 2006 | 2.700 | 7 out of 175 | n/a | 1 out of 37 |
This information is taken from the latest Journal Citation Reports™ from Clarivate, 2024.
Abstracting and Indexing Services
The World Bank Research Observer is covered by the following abstracting and indexing services:
CAB Abstracts
Current Contents® /Social and Behavioral Sciences
EconLit
Journal Citation Reports /Social Sciences Edition
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