ECON 396: Resources for Economics Thesis Writers (HC)

When researching or writing literature reviews, focus on journals that are widely recognized in economics and finance. Using articles from top-ranked, peer-reviewed journals strengthens your work and shows you are engaging with the most influential scholarship. Consider these factors:

• Start with EconLit → Journals indexed here have been vetted by the American Economic Association
• Journal rankings → Use the ranking tools listed below to compare journals by influence and other metrics
• Published by leading associations or presses → Many top journals are published by professional associations (e.g. American Economic Association, American Finance Association) or major academic publishers (e.g. Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, university presses)
• Peer review → Reputable journals clearly state their peer-review process (check the “information for authors” section on the journal's website)
• Professional presentation → Be cautious if a journal’s website has no editorial board or shows poor grammar and design
• Think. Check. Submit. → A detailed checklist for authors choosing where to publish, this checklist can also help students evaluate whether a journal is trustworthy before relying on it for research.

Use these journal ranking tools to identify the most influential journals in economics and finance.

This video (from NCSU Libraries) explains what makes a source trustworthy, why credibility matters for your research, and how to recognize reliable (or unreliable) information across different types of publications, from scholarly articles to news and opinion pieces.