Author Guidelines

Clear criteria for authorship and contributor ship are defined to promote transparency. Authors are encouraged to openly communicate individual contributions to the research. Guidelines for changes to authorship post-submission are provided, along with corresponding author responsibilities.

Manuscript Format
The manuscript contains:

  • Title Page (Topic, Author and Co- author name)
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Literature Review
  • Research Gap
  • Contribution to the study
  • Problem Statement
  • Theoretical Framework
  • Data Description
  • Econometric Model
  • Research Methodology
  • Results and Discussion
  • Conclusion
  • Policy Recommendation
  • References, and any other information that the author(s) may consider necessary.

Title Page:

Title should be clear and precise. There shouldn't be more than six authors on a manuscript. If there is any doubt about the family name (such as a duplicate name), please make it explicit. Place the affiliation addresses of the authors (where the work was completed) below the names. Mention following details of each author,

    • Full name
    • Email address
    • Affiliations

Authors should be clearly specified as; main/corresponding author, co-author, and/or contributor/supporting author.

Abstract:

The structured abstract should adhere to a specified format with a font size of 10, and the total word count should not exceed 250 words. It is crucial for the abstract to be self-explanatory, offering a clear and succinct overview of the study's rationale, objectives, methodology, primary results, and concluding remarks.

Introduction: 

Compose an introduction in three to four paragraphs that encompasses the study's background, duly citing previous literature. Explain the hypothesis, innovation, and the rationale justifying the study without mentioning the results or conclusion of the study.

Literature Review:
Conduct a comprehensive literature search, organize and summarize sources based on common themes, critically analyze their strengths and weaknesses, and construct information to establish a conceptual framework. Identifying gaps, contradictions, and limitations in the existing literature is crucial, and the review should maintain a logical structure, directly relating to the research question. Being both concise and selective, the literature review should connect each study to the central objective of the research, following consistent citation style and adhering to ethical considerations.

Research Gap and Contribution to the study:

Identify specific areas where knowledge is incomplete, inconsistent, or absent, directly connecting these gaps to your research question or objectives. Clearly and precisely state the shortcomings.. Justify the significance of addressing these gaps by explaining how it contributes to the advancement of the field or addresses practical issues. Consider the broader context of your field and discuss whether the gaps are methodological or theoretical. Acknowledge the contributions of existing literature objectively and set the stage for your study by outlining how it intends to fill these gaps and make a meaningful contribution to economic research.

Problem Statement:

Connect the problem statement to existing literature, showcasing awareness of relevant research and highlighting any gaps or limitations. Specify the scope of your study, clearly explaining the aspects of the problem under consideration. Formulate a precise research question or hypothesis that guides your study.

Theoretical Framework:

Create a theoretical framework identifying key concepts, reviewing relevant theories, and conceptualizing relationships. Select theories aligned with research objectives, developing a visual model to illustrate connections. Justify choices, integrate theories as necessary, and specify assumptions. Ensure alignment with research questions, be open to revisions, and link the framework to existing literature, providing a solid intellectual foundation for analysis and interpretation.

Data Description:
The data description in an economic research paper is crucial for transparency. It should be clearly outlines the data source, time period, geographical coverage, unit of observation, and key variables. The explanation of data collection, sampling, and cleaning procedures ensures reliability. Handling missing data, sampling methods, and data format are addressed, with emphasis on ethical considerations.

Econometric Methodology:

Construct the econometric methodology for an economics research paper which involves defining the economic model, justifying variable selection, and specifying estimation techniques. Diagnostic tests evaluate model fit, with results interpreted for coefficient significance and economic implications. The section should concludes with a summary, acknowledging limitations and specifying the statistical software used. This systematic approach ensures transparency and credibility in the analysis.

Results and Discussion:

Be clear and concise with the help of appropriate Tables, Figures, and other illustrations. Data should not be repeated in Tables and Figures, but must be supported with statistics. Provide interpretation of the results in the light of previous relevant studies, citing published references.

Conclusion and Policy Recommendation: 

In the concluding section, provide a concise and summarized overview of the results. Refrain from incorporating results not explicitly detailed in the results section. Authors may propose for further research based on the study's outcomes. This section serves to conclude the paper and, offer policy implications from the study's findings.

References:

The manuscript is expected to involve approximately 20-25 primary and up-to-date references to assert high-quality contributions to knowledge development. Citations and references must strictly follow the APA (American Psychological Association) style; font size 10. References should include only works that are cited within the text of the manuscript. Consulting the APA style manual is strongly recommended for completing manuscript submissions.

Manuscript Formatting

  • Submit manuscripts in Microsoft Word; PDFs not accepted.
  • Figures can be in Word, TIFF, GIF, JPEG, EPS, or PPT formats.
  • Use Times New Roman font, 1.15 spacing for main text.
  • Single-spacing for tables, long headings, and captions.
  • Text in double columns across paper width.
  • Number manuscript sections (e.g., 1. INTRODUCTION).
  • Article title in bold, font-size 16, with capitalized initial letters.
  • Author names (bold, font size 12) with professional affiliation (department, institution, mailing address, email; no position titles), all in font size 12.
  • Use an asterisk (*) to indicate the corresponding author.
  • Provide a short running title (max 50 characters, font size 10).
  • References must be prepared as under:
  1. Journal Articles

Bindler, A., Hjalmarsson, R., Ketel, N., & Mitrut, A. (2024a). Discontinuities in the Age-Victimisation Profile and the Determinants of Victimisation. The Economic Journal, 134(657), 95–134.

Ali, M., & Nishat, M. (2009). Do Foreign Inflows Benefit Pakistani Poor? The Pakistan Development Review, 48(4II), 715–738.

  1. Books
    Kaufmann, S., Ingo Stützle, & Locascio, A. (2017). Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the twenty-first century : an introduction. Verso.

Smith, A. (1776). The Wealth of Nations. W. Strahan and T. Cadell.

  1. Book Chapters

Smith, A. (1776a). Introduction and Plan of the Work. In The Wealth of Nations. W. Strahan and T. Cadell, London.

  1. Reports

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2024). World Economic Situation and Prospects. United Nations Publication.

  1. Online references

Sakina. (2023, March 23). Brain drain in Pakistan: a serious concern. Pakistan Today. https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2023/03/23/brain-drain-in-pakistan-a-serious-concern/

Tables and Figures

Tables:

  • Insert as editable text, not as images.
  • Number consecutively following their appearance in the text.
  • Provide concise but self-explanatory headings.
  • Number tables as "Table 1," "Table 2," etc.
  • Do not abbreviate "Table" to "Tab."
  • Round off data to the nearest three significant digits.
  • Include essential explanatory footnotes with superscript letters or symbols.
  • Avoid using vertical or horizontal lines, except for separating column heads from the data and at the end of the table.

Figures:.

  • Position figures close to where they are first cited.
  • Each figure should have a caption describing the illustration.
  • Caption format: "Fig. 1."
  • Use a font size of 10, bold, and left-align captions.
  • Ensure figures have a minimum resolution of 1000 pixels width/height or 300 dpi.
  • Figures may be printed in two sizes: column width of 8.0 cm or page width of 16.5 cm.
  • Parts in a figure can be identified by A, B, C, D, and cited as "Figure 1A," "Figure 1B," "Figure 1C."
  • Laser-printed line drawings are acceptable; avoid lettering smaller than 9 points or unnecessarily large.
  • Photographs must be of high quality, and a scale bar should be provided on all photomicrographs.