The Relationship Between Manuscript Submission Fees and Journal Quality

Abstract

This paper provides regression evidence using ordinary least squares supporting the hypothesis that higher manuscript submission fees act to ration out lower quality manuscripts being submitted for publication review, resulting in higher quality papers being published and increasing journal quality ratings as affirmed by citation-based statistics for top-ranked economics journals. The positive relationship between journal quality and manuscript submission fees is also consistent with the argument that higher submission fees are used to compensate journals for resources devoted to manuscript reviewing activities, resulting in higher quality papers being accepted for publication. Additional variables such as journal circulation, total journal article pages printed,journal age, and ranking of the journal editor's department affiliation all directly effect journal quality according to theory.