Editor-in-Chief of The Economic Journal

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The Royal Economic Society is currently seeking applications for the position of Editor-in-Chief of The Economic Journal. The new Editor-in-Chief will begin the role from summer 2027, when the current Editor’s term ends, and it is anticipated they will serve two consecutive 3-year terms.

Background

The Royal Economic Society (RES) is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious economic associations, dedicated to advancing economics for the public good. The Society publishes two journals in partnership with Oxford University Press: The Economic Journal and The Econometrics Journal.

The Economic Journal is one of the founding journals of modern economics and the second-oldest English-language economics journal in the world. Its rich history includes early foundational contributions and editorial stewardship from Francis Ysidro Edgeworth and John Maynard Keynes. Since 1891 the journal has provided a platform for high-quality, imaginative economic research, earning a worldwide reputation for excellence as a general interest journal, publishing papers in all fields of economics for a broad readership. The Journal welcomes submissions whether they be theoretical, applied, or orientated towards academics or policymakers.

The Royal Economic Society is seeking to appoint the next Editor-in-Chief of The Economic Journal. The Editor-in-Chief oversees the Board of Editors and all editorial processes and policies, with the support of the Editorial Office. The Editors work closely with Associate Editors, who act as ambassadors, advisors, and referees.

The Editor-in-Chief is expected to exercise independent editorial judgement while working collaboratively with the Royal Economic Society, Publications Committee, Editorial Office, and Publisher to support the Journal’s long-term strategic development and international standing.

The current Editor-in-Chief, Francesco Lippi, will complete his final term at the end of July 2027. It is anticipated that the next Editor will be appointed to join from summer 2027 and serve two consecutive 3-year terms.

Key responsibilities

The Editor-in-Chief is a key role, managing the editorial team and working closely with the Editorial Office, the Society, and the Publisher, with primarily responsibility for:

1. Serving as the main point of contact between the editorial team and the Society.
2. Providing intellectual and strategic leadership for the continued development, reputation, and international standing of the Journal.
3. Monitoring and maintaining the efficient performance of the team, including Editors, Special Issues Editor, RES Data Editor, and Associate Editors.
4. Editorial workflow: assigning papers to handling Editors, monitoring turnaround times, and balancing workloads.
5. Overseeing all key management and administrative processes, with support from the RES Senior Publications Manager, ensuring ethical and efficient peer review, and maintaining and developing the manuscript submission system (currently Editorial Express).
6. Making decisions on routine issues related to production (e.g. compiling issue running orders, monitoring production quality, and liaising with the publisher’s editorial and production teams).
7. Developing and implementing the Journal’s author, editor, and reviewer guidelines and ethics policies.
8. Ensuring the Journal’s replication policy is adhered to, in collaboration with the Data Editor.
9. Providing leadership on the complaints and appeals process, investigating cases in consultation with the Editors and communicating decisions.
10. Serving as ex-officiomember of the RESPublications Committeeand Editorial Appointments Subcommittee, communicating effectively with the Committee Chair, collating the Editors’ views on searches for new Editor appointments, and appointing Associate Editors.
11. Onboarding new Editors: keeping the induction document up-to-date and providing a demonstration on how to use the manuscript submission system.
12. Overseeing and presenting the Annual Report to the Publications Committee and reporting bi-annually on Journal performance and metrics.

Application Process

Applicants should submit a current full academic CV highlighting relevant research and editorial experience and a covering letter setting out their motivations for applying. This is a key editorial role and plays an integral part in executing the RES 2024–2028 Strategy.

Applications should be sent by email to Brooke Sperry, RES Head of Publications ej@res.org.uk by 30 September 2026. The role description, including person specification is available here. The position is remunerated.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact the current Editor-in-Chief, Francesco Lippi: francescolippi@gmail.com