Economica

• 1. Founding And Early History

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  The year 1921 marked the birth of Economica within the halls of the London School of Economics. This new journal emerged to serve as a generalist platform for economic thought during a period of significant academic expansion. Its establishment coincided with a growing need for dedicated spaces where economists could publish their findings without restrictive thematic boundaries. The early years focused on building a reputation for rigorous peer review and broad scholarly appeal. Founders sought to create an institution that would outlast temporary trends in economic theory.

• 2. Editorial Leadership Structure

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  Nava Ashraf currently serves alongside Oriana Bandiera, Tim Besley, Francesco Caselli, Maitreesh Ghatak, Stephen Machin, Ian Martin, and Gianmarco Ottaviano on the editorial board. These seven scholars collectively oversee the journal's academic direction and publication standards today. Their diverse backgrounds span various subfields of economics yet converge on a shared commitment to quality research. Each editor brings specific expertise while maintaining the journal's core mission of generalist coverage. The collaborative structure ensures no single perspective dominates the selection process for new submissions.

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• 3. Influential Publications Legacy

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  Two landmark papers published in Economica inspired an annual lecture series held at the London School of Economics. These works achieved such significance that they became central to ongoing academic discourse within the institution. The lectures now honor these original contributions by inviting leading thinkers to expand upon their ideas each year. This tradition connects past breakthroughs with current debates in economic theory. The enduring influence of these papers demonstrates how a single issue can shape decades of scholarly conversation.

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• 4. Academic Impact Metrics

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  Journal Citation Reports listed Economica with an impact factor of 1.500 in 2018. That ranking placed it 149th out of 363 journals categorized under "Economics". While not the highest ranked, this position reflects steady recognition among peers in the field. The metric measures how often articles from the journal are cited by other researchers over time. Such data helps institutions evaluate the journal's standing relative to competitors in the discipline.

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• 5. Publishing Partnership Model

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  Wiley-Blackwell publishes Economica on behalf of the London School of Economics today. This operational relationship allows the university to maintain editorial independence while leveraging professional distribution networks. The partnership combines academic oversight with commercial publishing infrastructure to reach global audiences efficiently. Without this arrangement, the journal might struggle to achieve similar circulation numbers or digital accessibility. The model exemplifies how modern academic journals balance institutional control with market realities.