Submissions

Author Guidelines

Submission Policy

The Journal of Public Governance (JoPG) accepts the following types of submissions in English:

• Research articles
• Theoretical articles (conceptual articles, original literature reviews)
• Book reviews

The Editorial Board accepts only original papers that have not been previously published and are not currently under review elsewhere. The Journal does not charge fees for article submission or processing. However, a fee of 20 EUR per additional 1,800 characters applies for manuscripts exceeding 40,000 characters (payable after acceptance).

Submissions must be prepared in accordance with these guidelines and the Academic Ethics Policy. Manuscripts not meeting these requirements will be returned to authors.

Copyright and Licensing

The Journal operates under an Open Access model. Authors retain copyright to their work while granting the Kraków University of Economics a licence to publish the article. Full licence terms are available on the Journal's website.

Peer Review Process

Each submission undergoes double-blind peer review by two reviewers. Authors receive reviewer feedback regardless of the editorial decision.

Evaluation criteria: precision of objectives, originality of research questions, theoretical foundation, quality of empirical research, originality of conclusions, contribution to the field, clarity of language, appropriate source selection.

Review outcomes:

1. Accept: suitable for publication in present form
2. Minor revisions: requires minor modifications
3. Major revisions: requires substantial revision and second review
4. Reject: not suitable for publication

Manuscript Requirements

Format and Submission

• Format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) only — PDF and other non-editable formats are not accepted
• Template: Use the JoPG manuscript template (available on the Journal's website: download)
• Length: 30,000–40,000 characters (including abstract, keywords, tables, figures, and references)
• Font: 12-point
• Spacing: Single-spaced
• Submission system: OJS (register as "Author" to submit; registration as "Reviewer" is also encouraged)

Language

• Language: English (clear, concise, and publication-ready)
• Preference: British English (e.g. "behaviour" not "behavior")
• Articles written in poor English will be rejected without review

Text Formatting

• Use italics (not underlining) for emphasis and for non-English words, including Latin
• Use bold sparingly and only when necessary
• Do not use underlining (except for URL addresses)
• Use single quotation marks for quotations: 'quotation' not "quotation"
• Place commas and full stops outside closing quotation marks

Lists

Use bullet points for most lists; use numbering only for sequential procedures. Provide the source reference before the list, not after.

Format for bullet lists (phrases):

• start each item with a lowercase letter,
• end with a comma,
• use a full stop after the final item.

Example: There are three factors (Smith, 1999, p. 2):

• education,
• training,
• consulting.

Format for bullet lists (full sentences):

• Start each item with a capital letter.
• End each item with a full stop.

Example: Following Smith (2014, p. 22), the following procedures were applied:

1. Execution of the significance test for individual random effects, allowing selection between the pooled model and the model with fixed effects (FE).
2. Execution of the BP test, allowing selection between the pooled model and the model with random effects (RE).
3. Execution of the Hausman test, allowing selection between the FE model and RE model.

Article Structure

Research articles:

1. Introduction — state objectives and provide background; avoid detailed literature survey or summary of results
2. Literature Review (or Literature Review and Hypotheses Development) — survey of relevant literature
3. Material and Methods — goals, hypotheses, and research methods; provide sufficient detail for replication
4. Results and Discussion — present results clearly; discuss significance without repetition
5. Conclusions — including research limitations and recommendations for future research
6. References

Theoretical articles:

1. Introduction
2. Material and Methods — goals, research methods, literature selection criteria, methods of analysis
3. Literature Review and Theory Development — detailed survey of relevant literature
4. Discussion — explore significance of findings
5. Conclusions — including research limitations and recommendations for future research
6. References

Abstract and Keywords

Provide a structured abstract on the Title Page with the following elements:

• Objectives: State the purpose of the research
• Research Design & Methods: Describe the methodology
• Findings: Summarise the main results
• Implications / Recommendations: Explain practical applications
• Contribution / Value Added: Highlight the original contribution

Additionally include:

• Article classification: Research article / Theoretical article (Conceptual article or Original literature review)
• Keywords: 5–7 keywords
• JEL classification: At least one code (see: www.aeaweb.org/jel/guide/jel.php)

The title, authors, abstract, and suggested citation must fit on one page.

Tables, Figures, and Graphics

General requirements:

• Number all tables and figures with Arabic numerals (Table 1, Figure 1)
• Use "Figure" for all visual elements (graphs, charts, maps, diagrams, schemes)
• Place titles above tables and below figures
• Follow the format: "What/Who + Where + When" (e.g. "Table 1. Inflation rate in the European Union, 2004–2010")
• Maximum size: 15.0 × 21.0 cm
• Use monochrome (black and white) with clear white backgrounds
• Use 2D charts only — 3D charts are not accepted
• Place tables and figures within the text at the appropriate points, not at the end

Technical requirements:

• Tables: MS Word or MS Excel (editable formats)
• Figures: Submit both in-text and as separate source files (MS Visio, Corel Draw, MS Word Drawing Module; .wmf or .eps format with embedded fonts also accepted)
• Diagrams/Charts: MS Excel + PDF
• Align numeric values to the right in tables
• Use consistent decimal places (maximum 3, e.g. 1.000; avoid formats such as 0.0011111)

Source attribution:

• Own work: "Source: own elaboration" or "Source: own study"
• Based on others: "Source: own elaboration based on..." or "Source: own calculations based on Eurostat data available at..."
• Adapted: "Source: adapted from..."

Additional requirements:

• Include measurement units (e.g. "in %", "in USD")
• Include sample size for empirical surveys (n = 650); note: N denotes the whole population, n denotes the sample
• Explain all abbreviations in the main text and in figure/table footnotes

Numbers, Formulas, and Currency

Numbers:

• Use spaces (not dots) to separate thousands: 32 046; 45 263 721
• Write numbers 1–10 as words; use numerals for 11+
• A billion = 10⁹ (not "milliard")
• Maintain consistency throughout the manuscript

Currency:

• Use ISO codes placed after the value: 4.99 EUR, 100 USD, 50 PLN
• Do not use graphic symbols for currencies
• Abbreviate millions as "m." (e.g. 7m EUR) or write in full (recommended)

Formulas:

• Use MS Word Equation Tools (Design Tab)
• Centre formulas and number them at the right margin: (1), (2), etc.
• Use square brackets for matrices; bold typeface for vectors
• Use regular typeface for all numerals, including indices
• Maintain single line spacing between formula and text
• Simple (one-level) formulas may be typed with the keyboard; complex (multi-level) formulas should be entered using the Equation Tools

Citations and References

Style: APA (7th edition recommended; 6th edition accepted)

In-text citations:

• One author: (Smith, 2017)
• Two authors: (Alan & Jones, 2010) or "Alan and Jones (2010) demonstrated..."
• Three or more authors: (Kramer et al., 2000)
• Multiple works: separate with semicolons, list alphabetically then chronologically (Allan, 1996a, 1996b; Allan & Jones, 1995)

Reference list requirements:

• Minimum 10 scientific references
• At least 4 references indexed in Web of Science
• Include recent studies (published within the last 5 years)
• Maximum 20% in non-English languages (unless country-specific research)
• Alphabetical order; same author sorted chronologically (use a, b, c for same year)
• Include DOI where available

Reference formats:

Journal article without DOI:

Ku, G. (2008). Learning to de-escalate: The effects of regret in escalation of commitment. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 105(2), 221–232.

Journal article with DOI:

Chrabąszcz, R., & Zawicki, M. (2016). The evolution of multi-level governance. Public Governance, 4(38), 17–31. https://doi.org/10.15678/ZP.2016.38.4.02

Book:

Kidder, T. (1981). The soul of a new machine. Little, Brown & Company.

Chapter in edited book:

Labajo, J. (2003). Body and voice: The construction of gender in flamenco. In T. Magrini (Ed.), Music and gender: Perspectives from the Mediterranean (pp. 67–86). University of Chicago Press.

Additional citation rules:

• For indirect citations: (Smith, 1976, p. 22, as cited in Lincoln, 2012, p. 12)
• Cite chapter authors in edited volumes, not the editor
• Provide detailed data sources: (Eurostat, htec_trd_tot4) rather than (Eurostat)
• Example for statistical data: "The population of Poland is 38 533 299 inhabitants (GUS, 2014, p. 4)"

Transliteration: Use Latin characters only in the main text and reference list. Transliterate non-Latin scripts (Cyrillic, Chinese, Japanese, etc.) following LOC standards: www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/roman.html

Title Page Requirements

The Title Page must be submitted as a separate file and must fit on one page. It serves as the primary source of author information and required declarations, which are removed from the main manuscript to ensure blind review.

Required Elements

1. Manuscript Title

Full title of the article, concise, informative, and reflective of the content.

2. Author Information

For each author, provide:

• Full name (Name Surname)
• Academic degree/title
• Institutional affiliation (Department, Faculty, Institution)
• City, Country
• Email address
• ORCID identifier (mandatory — register at https://orcid.org if needed)

Mark the corresponding author with an asterisk (*).

Example:

Jan Kowalski*, Department of Public Administration, Kraków University of Economics, Kraków, Poland, jan.kowalski@uek.krakow.pl, ORCID: 0000-0000-0000-0000

Anna Nowak, Faculty of Economics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland, anna.nowak@uw.edu.pl, ORCID: 0000-0000-0000-0001

*Corresponding author

3. Structured Abstract

Include all required elements:

• Objectives: Purpose of the research
• Research Design & Methods: Methodology employed
• Findings: Main results
• Implications / Recommendations: Practical applications
• Contribution / Value Added: Original contribution to the field

4. Article Classification

Indicate one of the following:

• Research article
• Theoretical article:
  • Conceptual article
  • Original literature review

5. Keywords

5–7 keywords relevant to the article content.

6. JEL Classification

At least one JEL code (e.g. H83, L33). For codes, see: www.aeaweb.org/jel/guide/jel.php

7. Suggested Citation

Provide a suggested citation format for the article.

Required Statements

Author Contributions

Specify each author's contribution using standardised terminology.

Example:

J.K.: conceptualisation, methodology, writing – original draft; A.N.: data curation, formal analysis, writing – review and editing. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding / Financial Disclosure

Declare all funding sources, grant numbers, and supporting institutions, or state that no external funding was received.

Examples:

This research was funded by the National Science Centre, Poland (Grant No. 2020/01/X/HS4/00001).

This research received no external funding.

Research Ethics Statement

Declare ethics committee approval (including committee name and reference number) if applicable, or state "Not applicable."

Conflicts of Interest

Declare any conflicts of interest or state that none exist.

Example:

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Data Availability Statement

Indicate how the data supporting the findings may be accessed.

Example:

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

AI Declaration Statement

Declare any use of AI tools in manuscript preparation, specifying the tool, purpose, and extent of oversight, or state that no AI tools were used.

Example (AI used):

The authors used ChatGPT (OpenAI, GPT-4) to assist with language editing and text refinement. All AI-generated suggestions were reviewed, edited, and verified by the authors, who take full responsibility for the content. No AI tools were used for data analysis, interpretation, or the generation of original ideas.

Example (no AI used):

The authors declare that no AI tools were used in the preparation of this manuscript.

Acknowledgements (if applicable)

Thank individuals or organisations that contributed to the work but do not meet authorship criteria.

Formatting Requirements

• The entire Title Page (title, authors, abstract, keywords, classification, statements, and suggested citation) must fit on one page
• Use the JoPG Title Page template available on the Journal's website
• Submit as a separate file from the anonymised manuscript

ORCID Requirement

ORCID is mandatory for all authors. Submissions without ORCID identifiers will not be processed. Additionally, ORCID must be entered in the OJS system during submission.

Ensuring Blind Review

To maintain double-blind review integrity:

In the manuscript:

• Remove all author names from the text
• Replace self-citations with "Author (year)" in references and footnotes
• Remove any identifying information

In file properties (Microsoft Word):

1. File → Info → Check for Issues → Inspect Document
2. Select "Document Properties and Personal Information"
3. Click "Remove All"
4. Save the document

For PDFs: Remove author names from Document Properties (File → Properties in Adobe Acrobat).

Publication Ethics

Author Responsibilities

Authors bear full responsibility for their submissions. For multi-authored papers, the submitting author must obtain consent from all co-authors and disclose individual contributions (concept, hypotheses, methods, protocols, writing, etc.).

Authors must provide complete financial disclosure regarding funding sources, institutional support, and potential conflicts of interest.

Ghost-writing and guest-authorship constitute scientific misconduct. Confirmed cases will be reported to relevant bodies (employing institutions, academic associations, editorial organisations).

For guidance, consult the COPE Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

Anti-Plagiarism Policy

JoPG uses Crossref Similarity Check with iThenticate to screen all submissions for potential plagiarism. See: www.ithenticate.com/about

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

For Authors: Authors must declare any AI tool use in manuscript preparation. Include an AI Declaration Statement specifying: tool name and version, purpose of use, and extent of author oversight.

AI use in the research process (data analysis, image generation, code development) must be described in Material and Methods.

Authors are fully responsible for all AI-assisted content. AI systems cannot be listed as authors. Simple grammar/spelling checkers do not require disclosure.

Example (AI used): "The authors used ChatGPT to assist with language editing and text refinement. All outputs were reviewed, edited, and verified by the authors, who take full responsibility for the content."

Example (no AI used): "The authors declare that no AI tools were used in the preparation of this manuscript."

For Reviewers: Manuscripts are confidential. Do not use generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot) to read, summarise, or draft reviews. Non-generative tools (grammar correction) may be used if confidentiality is maintained. Disclose any AI use influencing review content to the editor.

For Editors: Do not share manuscripts with external AI systems or use generative AI for editorial assessment or correspondence. Verify authors' AI declarations and seek clarification if undeclared or inappropriate use is suspected.

Book Reviews

Eligibility:

• Polish-language publications: published within the past year
• Foreign-language publications: published within the past two years

Requirements:

• Include complete bibliographic data (author, title, publisher, place, year, pages, appendices)
• Present critical evaluation and discuss the work's contribution to the field
• Assess methodology, bibliography, index, graphics, and editorial quality
• Length: 3–11 standard pages (1,800 characters per page)
• Contact the Editorial Board before submission to confirm the subject and obtain approval

Submission Checklist

Before submitting, confirm that the submission meets all of the following requirements:

Originality and approval:

• The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor)
• All co-authors have approved the submission

Manuscript format:

The submission file is in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx)

The JoPG template has been used (download)

The text is single-spaced, uses a 12-point font, and employs italics rather than underlining

All tables and figures are placed within the text at appropriate points

Anonymisation:

The manuscript is anonymised (no author names or identifying information)

Author identification has been removed from file properties

Self-citations use "Author (year)" format

Structure and content:

• The article follows the appropriate structure (research or theoretical)
• The structured abstract includes all required elements (Objectives, Research Design & Methods, Findings, Implications/Recommendations, Contribution/Value Added)
• Article classification is indicated
• Keywords (5–7) are provided
• JEL classification is provided (also to be entered in OJS)

References:

References follow APA style

DOI numbers are included where available

At least 10 scientific references are included

At least 4 references are indexed in Web of Science

Recent studies (last 5 years) are included

Non-English references do not exceed 20%

Title Page (separate file):

Includes author names, affiliations, and ORCID identifiers for all authors

Includes Author Contributions statement

Includes Funding/Financial Disclosure statement

Includes Conflicts of Interest declaration

Includes AI Declaration statement

Fits on one page

OJS system:

ORCID is provided in the OJS system

JEL classification is provided in the OJS system

Useful Resources

• EASE Guidelines for Authors (2018): English | Polish
• APA Style Guide: www.apastyle.org
• JEL Classification: www.aeaweb.org/jel/guide/jel.php
• Transliteration Standards: www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/roman.html
• JoPG Technical Guidelines and Templates: www.publicgovernance.pl

Contact

For submissions and enquiries, contact the Editorial Office via the OJS system or the Journal website: www.publicgovernance.pl