Jel Submission

---
name: jel-submission
description: Use when running the final pre-submission preflight for a Journal of Economic Literature (JEL) proposal or full survey via the AEA ScholarOne portal — proposal vs. full-paper route, disclosure statements, JEL codes, AEA data/code policy, and style-guide compliance. Final checks; it does not draft content.
---

# Submission Preflight (jel-submission)

## When to trigger

- "Submitting tomorrow" — last check before uploading a proposal or full survey to the AEA portal
- Unsure which route (proposal vs. full paper) and which files the portal expects
- Confirming JEL codes, disclosure statements, and style-guide compliance
- Verifying the AEA data/code policy obligations for a survey that discusses empirical work

## Process facts (检索于 2026-06；以官网为准 — re-confirm on the AEA JEL pages)

- **Publisher / venue.** JEL is published by the **American Economic Association (AEA)**, founded **1969**; it is the AEA's survey-of-record journal, distinct from JEP and AER. Submission is via the AEA's **ScholarOne Manuscripts** portal. The lead editor is **David H. Romer (UC Berkeley)** (appointed July 2022; re-verified 2026-06-22 — re-confirm the masthead on the AEA JEL page before relying).
- **Two intake routes.** (1) **Proposal** — a sketch of **~10 pages (excluding references)** stating the contents, why the topic interests readers, and the main references to be covered; this is the efficient route. (2) **Full paper** — the journal also considers a complete survey; mechanics are the same as for a proposal. A **pre-proposal email to the editor** to test interest is welcomed (editor contact volatile — see `jel-proposal-and-commissioning`).
- **Disclosure (required).** Each (co)author must prepare a separate PDF titled **"Disclosure Statement"** covering financial conflicts of interest and, where applicable, IRB approval. **Submissions without these are treated as incomplete.** AEA disclosure policy applies.
- **Data & code.** The **AEA Data and Code Availability Policy** applies; empirical work, simulations, or experimental methods that the survey itself reports must be documented for replication. (A pure survey reports no new data of its own; the obligation bites mainly on any original quantitative synthesis you contribute — see `jel-tables-figures`.)
- **JEL codes & keywords.** Assign JEL classification codes (the system JEL maintains) and keywords per the style guide — see `jel-classification-system`.
- **Style / format.** Follow the **AEA / JEL Style Guide** for manuscript formatting and references; AEA house style is applied at acceptance. Confirm any length, abstract, and anonymity specifics on the style-guide page (these are volatile and not assumed here).
- **Fees.** Any AEA submission fee is **volatile — re-confirm on the AEA JEL page**; do not assert an amount.
- **Anonymity.** Whether review is single- or double-blind for JEL surveys is not assumed here — confirm on the AEA JEL pages and prepare a title page / anonymized manuscript accordingly if required.

## Preflight checklist

### Route & files
- [ ] Route chosen: proposal (~10pp excl. references) **or** full survey
- [ ] Proposal (if used) states: contents + why readers care + main references to be covered
- [ ] Manuscript/proposal formatted per the AEA/JEL Style Guide
- [ ] Pre-proposal email considered (test interest; confirm editor contact on the AEA page)

### Front matter
- [ ] JEL classification codes assigned and verified (`jel-classification-system`)
- [ ] Keywords and complete author affiliations present
- [ ] Abstract written in survey style (confirm length/format in the style guide)

### Declarations (incomplete without these)
- [ ] Separate **"Disclosure Statement"** PDF per (co)author (financial COI; IRB where applicable)
- [ ] AEA data/code obligations met for any original quantitative content the survey reports
- [ ] Confirmed not under review elsewhere; AI not listed as an author

### Volatile re-confirms
- [ ] Submission fee (if any), editor/contact, portal specifics, anonymity policy — re-checked on the AEA JEL pages (检索于 2026-06)

## Anti-patterns

- Uploading a full draft cold when a ~10-page proposal would have de-risked the project
- Omitting the per-author Disclosure Statement (renders the submission incomplete)
- Asserting a submission fee or editor name from memory rather than the live AEA page
- Submitting a survey with no JEL codes / keywords, or codes that contradict the framework
- Treating the AEA data/code policy as irrelevant to a survey that reports its own quantitative synthesis

## Output format

```
【Route】proposal (~10pp) / full survey
【Proposal content】contents + reader interest + main references? Y/N (if proposal)
【JEL codes + keywords】assigned, verified, on title page? Y/N
【Disclosure】separate PDF per (co)author prepared? Y/N
【Data/code】AEA policy obligations met for any original synthesis? Y/N
【Volatile re-confirms】fee / editor / portal / anonymity checked on AEA page? Y/N
【Next step】submit via AEA ScholarOne → jel-editor-strategy for what to expect
```

## Supplementary resources

- [`templates/checklist.md`](templates/checklist.md) — 8-section pre-submission self-check
- [`../../resources/official-source-map.md`](../../resources/official-source-map.md) — official AEA/JEL URLs behind every fact