Journal of Economic Literature

The *Journal of Economic Literature* (J Econ Lit, ISSN 0022-0515) is a premier, peer-reviewed academic journal published by the American Economic Association. With an exceptional 2026 Impact Factor of 12.800, it holds a Q1 ranking in the Journal Citation Reports, solidifying its status as one of the most influential and authoritative periodicals in the field of economics. The journal’s primary scope is the synthesis and critical evaluation of existing economic research, rather than the publication of novel empirical or theoretical findings. It focuses on publishing comprehensive survey articles and review essays that systematically assess the state of knowledge across diverse subfields, including microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, public economics, and economic history. A distinctive and highly valued feature is its extensive book review section, which provides incisive evaluations of significant new scholarly works. The target audience comprises professional economists, academic researchers, graduate students, and policy analysts who require authoritative, high-level overviews to stay current with broad developments in the discipline. As a non-open access subscription journal, it is widely accessible through institutional libraries and academic databases, with its content also distributed to all members of the American Economic Association. The *Journal of Economic Literature* is unparalleled in its role as a critical synthesizer of economic thought, and its top-tier impact factor reflects its indispensable standing as a definitive reference point for the entire economics profession.