Publication Ethics

BEMA Journal of Business, Economics, Management, and Accounting is a peer-reviewed academic journal committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publishing process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher. This publication ethics statement is based on the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors who submit manuscripts to BEMA Journal of Business, Economics, Management, and Accounting are expected to adhere to the following ethical standards:

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that the submitted work is original. Any use of others’ work or ideas must be appropriately cited. Plagiarism in all forms is strictly prohibited.

  • Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication: Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously or publish substantially similar content in multiple publications.

  • Data Access and Retention: Authors may be required to provide raw data related to their manuscript for editorial review and should retain such data for a reasonable time after publication.

  • Authorship of the Paper: Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study.

  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the results or interpretation of their work.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given.

  • Errors in Published Works: If authors discover significant errors or inaccuracies in their published work, they are obligated to promptly notify the editor and cooperate in correcting or retracting the paper.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of BEMA Journal of Business, Economics, Management, and Accounting are responsible for ensuring the integrity and quality of the publication process:

  • Publication Decisions: Editors are responsible for deciding which submitted articles should be published, based on the manuscript’s academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope.

  • Fair Play: Editors evaluate manuscripts without regard to the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.

  • Confidentiality: Editors and editorial staff must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and publisher.

  • Conflicts of Interest: Editors must not use unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript for their own research without the author’s explicit written consent.

  • Handling of Ethical Issues: Editors will take appropriate action when ethical complaints are raised, including issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when necessary.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the quality and credibility of the journal:

  • Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Reviewers assist editors in making editorial decisions and help authors improve their manuscripts through constructive feedback.

  • Confidentiality: Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents and should not be shared or discussed with others.

  • Objectivity and Standards: Reviews should be conducted objectively, with clear and supported arguments.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors.

  • Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers should decline to review manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with any of the authors or institutions.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher of BEMA Journal of Business, Economics, Management, and Accounting is committed to ensuring that:

  • Editorial decisions are independent and free from commercial influence.

  • Ethical guidelines are consistently applied throughout the publication process.

  • Cases of alleged misconduct are investigated in accordance with COPE guidelines.

  • The integrity of the academic record is preserved through appropriate corrective actions when necessary.

5. Handling of Publication Malpractice

BEMA Journal of Business, Economics, Management, and Accounting takes all allegations of publication malpractice seriously. The journal will follow COPE procedures in investigating and resolving cases of plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, and other ethical breaches.