Author Guidelines

Guide for Authors

The journal Bio-based and Applied Economics (BAE) provides a forum for presentation and discussion of applied research in the field of bio-based sectors and related policies, informing evidence-based decision-making and policymaking. It intends to provide a scholarly source of theoretical and applied studies while remaining widely accessible for non-researchers.

BAE seeks applied contributions on the economics of bio-based industries, such as agriculture, forestry, fishery and food, dealing with any related disciplines, such as resource and environmental economics, consumer studies, regional economics, innovation and development economics. Beside well-established fields of research related to these sectors, BAE aims to explore cross-sectoral, recent and emerging themes characterizing the integrated management of biological resources, bio-based industries and sustainable development of rural areas. A special attention is also paid to the linkages between local and international dimensions. BAE’s objectives are:

• stimulate cross-fertilization between the above-mentioned research fields;
• synthesize and integrate lessons learned from current strands of literature in economics;
• provide a forum for well-established scholars as well as promising young researchers;
• increase the knowledge about assessment, design and evaluation of public policies;
• promote the debate on issues relating to the economics profession and its consultancy activities;
• discuss future research pathways on the above issues.

Ethics in publishing

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 reported study.

Originality and plagiarism

The authors should ensure that they have written entirely original works, and if the authors have used the work and/or words of others, that this has been appropriately cited or quoted.

Data access and retention

Authors may be asked to provide the raw data in connection with a paper for editorial review and should be prepared to provide public access to such data.

Multiple, redundant, or concurrent publication

An author should not in general publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in more than one journal or primary publication.

Acknowledgement of sources

Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given.

Fundamental errors in published works

When an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in his/her own published work, it is the author’s obligation to promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the paper.

Reporting standards

Authors of reports of original research should present an accurate account of the work performed as well as an objective discussion of its significance.

Hazards and human or animal subjects

Statements of compliance are required if the work involves chemicals, procedures or equipment that have any unusual hazards inherent in their use, or if it involves the use of animal or human subjects.

Use of inclusive language

Inclusive language acknowledges diversity, conveys respect to all people, is sensitive to differences, and promotes equal opportunities. Content should make no assumptions about the beliefs or commitments of any reader; contain nothing which might imply that one individual is superior to another on the grounds of age, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, disability or health condition; and use inclusive language throughout. Authors should ensure that writing is free from bias, stereotypes, slang, reference to dominant culture and/or cultural assumptions. We advise to seek gender neutrality by using plural nouns as default/wherever possible to avoid using “he, she,” or “he/she.” We recommend avoiding the use of descriptors that refer to personal attributes such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, disability, or health condition unless they are relevant and valid. These guidelines are meant as a point of reference to help identify appropriate language but are by no means exhaustive or definitive.

Requirements

All new submissions will be assessed against their originality before being sent out for review. All papers should be fully original. This means that there should be no overlap in text already published in other outlets, even if from the same authors. Authors should note that manuscripts deemed to contain plagiarism will be desk rejected, with the editors of BAE reserving the right to notify the supervisors of authors whose work is plagiarized.

Technical requirements

Before it is assigned to an editor, each new manuscript is screened by BAE’s technical staff to assure that it complies with submission requirements. The technical expectations are:

• the submission includes all the expected files, including Cover Letter, Highlights, Title Page File, Manuscript File
• the Title Page File contains all the following elements in this order: Title, Authors, Affiliations, Abstract, Keywords, JEL codes, Corresponding Author
• Manuscript File contains all the following elements in this order: Title, Abstract, Main text, References, Appendix (if needed)
• all headings and subheadings are numbered throughout and in the journal’s style
• the paper is formatted with double-line spacing
• all references mentioned in the Reference List are cited in the text, and vice versa
• references are provided in the journal’s style
• the word count is below the maximum, and that the number matches the actual word count of the paper (according to the counting rules specified in the Guide for Authors)
• the Abstract is no longer than 150 words
• Referee suggestions and contact details provided, based on journal requirements

Submissions that do not adhere to these requirements may be returned to authors

Language

Manuscripts should be submitted in English (American or British usage is accepted, but not a mixture of these). If English is not your first language, please ensure that your manuscript will be edited for language before submitting it. This is not a mandatory step but may help to ensure that the academic content of your paper is fully understood by journal editors and reviewers.

Submission

Submission to this journal proceeds entirely online. The online submission system guides stepwise through the process of entering article details and uploading files. Manuscripts must be submitted together with a Cover Letter stating that the manuscript has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere.

Types of contribution

BAE publishes Full Research Articles and Reviews Articles (normally 6,000-8,000 words), and Short Communications (less than 4,500 words). Please note: the word count for all article types includes abstract, tables, figures, appendices, footnotes, funding, acknowledgements, and references. Longer articles may be occasionally accepted but they must be motivated at the submission in the cover letter to the Editor.

Format

Manuscripts should be submitted in OpenOffice, Microsoft Word, or RTF document file format following instructions provided by the FUP website. Text is double-spaced, using a 12-point font, with line numbers; employs italics, rather than underlining. Figures, and tables are placed within the text at the appropriate points, rather than at the end. The manuscript will start with the title of the paper, followed by an abstract of no more than 150 words. The abstract should provide a clear summary of the objectives, the theoretical background, the methodology employed, main results and their implications. Please, also provide a maximum of five keywords and a maximum of three JEL codes (https://www.aeaweb.org/econlit/jelCodes.php?view=jel) below the abstract.

A separate Title Page File should include the title, Author(s)’ names and affiliations, and the date of submission; the corresponding Author should be clearly indicated on this file, with all details for correspondence. General acknowledgements, funding sources and other information should also appear on the Title Page File.

Highlights are mandatory for this journal as they help increase the discoverability of your article via search engines. They consist of a short collection of bullet points that capture the novel results of your research as well as new methods that were used during the study (if any). Highlights should be submitted in a separate editable file in the online submission system. Please use ‘Highlights’ in the file name and include 3 to 5 bullet points (maximum 85 characters, including spaces, per bullet point).

Refereeing process

BAE adopts a double-blind review policy. For the purpose of double-blind review, we request that you remove all information that may link authors to the paper in the Manuscript File.

Submitted manuscripts will be sent to at least two anonymous reviewers, selected by the Editorial Board members and the Editors. Any submitted manuscript will receive a reference number. This number should be quoted in all correspondence relating to the article. For any submission one of the Editor will be responsible, and all the correspondence should be sent to the Editor in-charge.

Authors are requested to suggest three potential reviewers with the appropriate expertise to review the manuscript. The editors will not necessarily approach these referees. Please provide detailed contact information (address, homepage, phone, e-mail address). The proposed referees should neither be current collaborators of the co-authors nor have published with any of the co-authors of the manuscript within the last five years. Proposed reviewers should be from different institutions to the authors. Two out of the three suggested reviewers must be affiliated in foreign Institutions with respect to the country in which are based the Institutions of the authors of the submission. Similarly, authors can suggest three potential scholars who are found to be unsuitable to review the manuscript.

Structure of the manuscript

Manuscripts should be divided into sections, each numbered and with section heading. Please, try not to use more than three grades of headings (for example, 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3).

Notes, numbered consecutively, should be presented as footnotes at the end of the page in which they are inserted. Please restrict the notes to the minimum necessary.

Tables (submitted in editable format) and figures should be placed in the body of the manuscript; please number tables and figures consecutively. The corresponding caption should be placed directly above the figure or table. Try to limit the number and size of tables and figures.

Try to use only essential mathematical notations; equations (submitted in editable format) should be included in text and numbered consecutively.

For non-English words, a translation must be provided in parentheses; any acronym should be spelt out in full in parentheses when first used in text.

References

References should be collected at the end of the manuscript; the References section must include only works cited in the text. The standard for references is the following:

Book

Viaggi, D. (2018). The bioeconomy: Delivering sustainable green growth. Oxfordshire. CABI.

Article or chapter in a book

Brunori, G. and Bartolini, F. (2016). The Family Farm. Model for the Future or Relic of the Past?. Shucksmith M, Brown, D (eds). International Handbook of Rural Studies. New York. Routledge

Article or chapter in Proceedings of a Conference

Romano, D., and Carraro, A. (2015). Price Shocks, Vulnerability and Food and Nutrition Security among Rural and Urban Households in Tanzania. Proceedings of the Fourth Congress of the Italian Association of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Ancona, Italy.

Article in a journal

Santeramo, F. G., and von Cramon-Taubadel, S. (2016). On perishability and Vertical Price Transmission: empirical evidences from Italy. Bio-based and Applied Economics Journal, 5(2): 199-214.

Minarelli, F., Raggi, M., and Viaggi, D. (2015). Innovation in European food SMEs: determinants and links between types. Bio-based and Applied Economics, 4(1): 33-53.

Cerroni, S., Watson, V., and Macdiarmid, J. I. (2019). Consumers’ rationality and home-grown values for healthy and environmentally sustainable food. Bio-based and Applied Economics, 8(2):  101-132.

Dissertations, reports, conference papers

Santeramo, F. G. (2016). Three Essays on Applied Aspects of Transaction Costs. PhD dissertation, Department of Economics, North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC.

De Roest, K., Belletti, G., Arfini, F., Menozzi, D., Oostindië, H. A., van Broekhuizen, R. E., & Hees, E. (2015). Comparative analysis of pork supply chains in Italy and the Netherlands. Wageningen UR.

European Commission (2010). The CAP Towards 2020: Meeting the Food, Natural Resources and Territorial Challenges of the Future. COM(2010) 672 final. Brussels.

Internet References

Gallezot, J. (2005). Database on European Agricultural Tariffs- DBTAR. TRADEAG Working Paper No. 2005/07. Available at: http://ageconsearchj.umn.edu/handle/18851 (Accessed 28 October 2010).

Special Issues

The Editors-in-Chief (EiC) of BAE welcome proposals for special issues on topics that fall within the scope of the journal. Each special issue is the responsibility of guest editor(s), under the direction of one of the regular journal editors. Those wishing to guest edit a special issue should prepare a proposal as outlined below, then send this to the EiC for consideration. The EiC consider proposals quarterly. The submissions deadlines for special issue proposals are January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15. The EiC will inform submitters by e-mail of a decision, usually within a month.

A special issue proposal must:

1. Provide a tentative full title of the special issue.
2. Identify a single lead guest editor. There may be other guest editors, but the lead guest editor will be the point of contact for the journal editorial and production teams. The proposal should list all guest editors by name, institutional affiliation(s), and email, and be accompanied by CV of the guest editors.
3. Include a narrative (maximum five pages, not including references) that explains why the editors should dedicate a section of or a complete issue of a volume of BAE to the proposed topic. Explain the anticipated contribution of the special issue in advancing understanding in this area. This will require explicit reference to the current research frontier(s) in the existing literature and demonstrate expertise on the subject).
4. Include a draft open call for papers that provides at least three months for prospective authors to submit. The call for papers would be published on the BAE website and has to be circulated among the research community by the guest editor(s).
5. Indicate the timeline for a submissions deadline, reviews, revisions of papers invited to revise-and-resubmit, production of an introductory essay by the guest editor(s), and submission of a full set of papers recommended for publication to the journal editors. Final acceptance decisions are made by the journal’s regular editors, based on the recommendations of the lead guest editor.

Role of guest editors

Once a proposal has been approved in principle by the EiC of BAE, it is the responsibility of the guest editors to deliver the issue to BAE within the agreed timeline. One of the EiC of BAE will act as a contact person for each special issue.

All submitted papers must go through a double-blind review process, according to current standards of the journal.

Once the papers recommended for inclusion in the special issue have been identified, the guest editors are responsible for drafting an introductory paper that sets out the key issues covered in the special issue (with appropriate reference to existing literature) and summarizes the contribution of the papers included. Each individual paper must address explicitly one or more of the issues highlighted in the overview paper. It should not just be left to the overview paper to draw out the policy implications of the assembled papers.