Peer Review Process

All manuscripts submitted to IRMEA undergo a double-blind peer review process, in which the identities of authors and reviewers are concealed from each other to ensure an objective and unbiased evaluation.

1. Initial Editorial Screening

• The Editor-in-Chief or Handling Editor conducts an initial check of each submission.
• At this stage, the manuscript is evaluated for:
  • Fit with the aim and scope of IRMEA
  • Basic quality of writing and structure
  • Compliance with the author guidelines and formatting requirements
• Manuscripts that do not meet these basic criteria may be returned to the authors or rejected without external review.

2. Plagiarism and Similarity Check

• All submissions are checked using plagiarism-detection software.
• Manuscripts with excessive similarity or unethical overlap may be rejected or returned to authors for clarification.

3. Assignment to Reviewers

• Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are sent to at least two independent reviewers who are experts in the relevant field.
• Reviewers are selected based on their expertise, publication record, and absence of conflicts of interest.

4. Review Process

• Reviewers assess the manuscript’s:
  • Originality and contribution to the field
  • Theoretical grounding and literature review
  • Methodological rigor and data analysis
  • Clarity of presentation and coherence of arguments
  • Relevance to management, economics, entrepreneurship, or accounting, particularly in emerging markets
• Reviewers provide constructive comments and a recommendation (accept, minor revision, major revision, or reject).

5. Editorial Decision

• The Editor considers the reviewers’ reports and makes one of the following decisions:
  • Accept
  • Minor Revision
  • Major Revision
  • Reject
• In cases of conflicting recommendations, an additional reviewer may be invited, or the Editor will make a decision based on the overall evidence.

6. Revision and Resubmission

• Authors are invited to revise their manuscript in line with the reviewers’ and editor’s comments.
• A revised version should be accompanied by a response letter explaining how each comment has been addressed.
• Revised manuscripts may be sent back to the original reviewers for re-evaluation, especially in the case of major revisions.

7. Final Acceptance and Proofreading

• Once the manuscript is accepted, it proceeds to copyediting, layout, and proofreading.
• Authors have the opportunity to check proofs and correct minor errors before final publication.

8. Confidentiality and Ethics

• All submitted manuscripts and review reports are treated as confidential
• Reviewers and editors must not use any unpublished material disclosed in a submission for their own research or personal advantage.

This peer review process is designed to ensure that all articles published in IRMEA meet high standards of scientific quality, integrity, and relevance.