Economic: Journal Economic and Business (EJEB) is committed to maintaining academic integrity, originality, and ethical standards in scholarly publishing. The journal does not tolerate plagiarism, improper attribution, or the misrepresentation of previously published work as original research.

This policy is informed by the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and applies to all manuscripts submitted to and articles published in EJEB.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism refers to the presentation of another person's words, ideas, research findings, data, figures, or other intellectual contributions as one's own without appropriate acknowledgment.

Plagiarism may occur intentionally or unintentionally and includes:

• Direct plagiarism: Reproducing text or other material from another source without appropriate quotation or attribution.

• Paraphrasing plagiarism: Rewriting another person's ideas or arguments without acknowledging the original source.

• Mosaic plagiarism: Combining copied phrases or passages from multiple sources without appropriate acknowledgment.

• Self-plagiarism or text recycling: Reusing substantial portions of one's previously published work without appropriate disclosure or citation.

• Data and figure plagiarism: Using research data, tables, figures, or other scholarly materials without appropriate attribution or permission where required.

• Source misrepresentation: Providing misleading citations or falsely representing the origin of scholarly material.

2. Originality Requirements

All manuscripts submitted to EJEB must represent original scholarly contributions and comply with the journal's publication ethics requirements.

Authors must ensure that:

1. The manuscript has not been published previously or submitted simultaneously to another journal, except where permitted under the journal's policies.

2. All sources are appropriately cited and acknowledged.

3. Direct quotations and paraphrased materials are presented according to accepted academic writing standards.

4. Previously published materials are reused only with appropriate attribution, disclosure, and permission when necessary.

5. Any substantial overlap with the authors' previous publications is disclosed to the editorial team.

3. Plagiarism Screening

Economic: Journal Economic and Business (EJEB) uses Turnitin as a similarity-detection tool to support the assessment of manuscript originality and academic integrity.

Submitted manuscripts undergo similarity screening during the initial editorial evaluation before proceeding to further editorial assessment and peer review.

The editorial team examines Turnitin similarity reports to identify potential plagiarism, inappropriate textual overlap, insufficient attribution, and substantial reuse of previously published material.

The similarity index is not used as the sole criterion for determining plagiarism or manuscript acceptance. Each report is evaluated by considering the context, extent, and nature of textual similarities, including properly cited quotations, references, standard academic terminology, and methodological descriptions.

Manuscripts containing problematic similarities may be returned to authors for clarification or revision. Manuscripts involving substantial plagiarism or serious violations of publication ethics may be rejected following editorial assessment.

The final editorial decision is based on the manuscript's originality, academic integrity, and compliance with EJEB's publication ethics policies.

4. Evaluation of Similarity Reports

When reviewing potential textual overlap, the editorial team considers:

• The extent and distribution of overlapping material.

• Whether the original sources are appropriately cited.

• Whether the overlap involves quotations, standard expressions, research methods, or substantive scholarly contributions.

• Whether previously published text has been reused transparently and appropriately.

• Whether the overlap affects the originality, integrity, or scholarly contribution of the manuscript.

The editorial team may request clarification, corrections, or additional supporting information from the authors.

5. Plagiarism Detected Before Publication

When suspected plagiarism is identified during submission, editorial screening, or peer review, the editorial team may take appropriate action according to the nature and seriousness of the concern.

Possible actions include:

1. Requesting clarification or supporting documentation from the authors.

2. Requiring corrections to citations, quotations, or attribution.

3. Requesting substantial manuscript revisions.

4. Rejecting the manuscript when serious plagiarism or misrepresentation is established.

5. Referring serious or unresolved ethical concerns to the relevant institution when warranted.

Authors will be given an appropriate opportunity to respond to allegations before a final decision is made.

6. Plagiarism Detected After Publication

If suspected plagiarism is reported or identified after an article has been published, EJEB will assess the concern and examine the available evidence.

The editorial team may contact the authors, review the relevant publications, request supporting documentation, and consult the relevant institutions where necessary.

Depending on the findings and the seriousness of the issue, EJEB may issue:

• Correction: When an error in attribution or citation can be appropriately corrected without undermining the reliability of the article.

• Expression of Concern: When significant concerns remain unresolved and readers need to be informed while further investigation is conducted.

• Retraction: When substantial plagiarism or other serious publication misconduct is established and the reliability or integrity of the scholarly record is compromised.

Editorial decisions will follow applicable publication ethics principles and the journal's correction and retraction policies.

7. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring the originality and integrity of their submissions.

Authors must properly acknowledge all sources, accurately represent their research contributions, disclose relevant prior publications, and cooperate with editorial inquiries concerning potential plagiarism.

All listed authors share responsibility for the integrity of the submitted and published work.

8. Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

Editors are responsible for evaluating suspected plagiarism fairly, consistently, and confidentially.

Reviewers who identify potential plagiarism, unattributed overlap, or related ethical concerns should inform the editorial team and provide relevant supporting information where possible.

Allegations must be assessed on the basis of evidence rather than similarity percentages alone.

9. Confidentiality and Fair Investigation

EJEB handles allegations of plagiarism with appropriate confidentiality and procedural fairness.

Individuals involved in an allegation should be given an opportunity to provide explanations and relevant evidence.

Editorial decisions are based on the seriousness of the concern, the available evidence, and applicable publication ethics standards.

10. Ethical References

This policy is informed by guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE):

https://publicationethics.org/

The policy should be read together with the journal's Publication Ethics, Authorship Criteria, and Correction and Retraction policies.