Reviewer Guidelines

1. Review Structure

Each submitted manuscript will be reviewed by qualified experts following a structured format, typically consisting of four parts:

  • Summary: A concise overview of the paper’s aims, methods, and key contributions, emphasizing the significance and relevance of the research.

  • Evaluation: A critical analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript, addressing originality, impact, methodological rigor, and quality of writing.

  • Recommendation: A clear decision proposal (Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, Reject), supported by rationale.

  • Detailed Comments: Constructive feedback for authors to improve the manuscript. Confidential notes to the editorial board may also be included if necessary.

All reviews are submitted anonymously to maintain fairness and transparency.

2. Criteria for Acceptable Papers

Manuscripts submitted to Future–RERD must meet the following key standards:

  • Originality: The submission must present novel insights, models, data, or policy implications in the context of rural economics and regional development.

  • Significance and Relevance: The work should have clear implications for development policy, rural innovation, or academic advancement in the field.

  • Technical Soundness: The methodologies, statistical analyses, or theoretical arguments must be reliable, coherent, and appropriately justified.

  • Presentation Quality: Manuscripts should be clearly written, logically structured, and aligned with academic writing conventions, including proper citations and references.

Manuscripts failing to meet these criteria may be rejected or returned for major revision.

3. Expectations for Paper Content

All submitted papers must include:

  • Clear Motivation and Objectives: Articulate the research question and its relevance to rural or regional development challenges.

  • Evidence of Novelty: Clearly state what is new about the research and compare it to existing literature or policy practices.

  • Empirical Validation: Provide robust supporting evidence, such as case studies, field data, statistical models, or policy evaluation. Address reproducibility and scalability where applicable.

  • Scientific Integrity: All findings and claims must be supported by logical reasoning and well-documented evidence.

4. Types of Submissions

Future–RERD accepts the following categories of submissions:

  • Theoretical or Methodological Papers: Introduce new frameworks, models, or conceptual approaches relevant to regional or rural development.

  • Empirical Papers: Include clearly documented methodology, data sources, and analysis with emphasis on practical outcomes and policy implications.

  • Experience Reports: Considered only if they provide deep insights into development practice, institutional learning, or raise significant new questions.

5. Comparative Analysis with Existing Work

Authors must position their manuscript in the context of existing literature and policies. The manuscript should clearly demonstrate:

  • How it differs from or improves upon prior studies

  • What specific contributions it makes to the field

  • Why the findings matter to policymakers, scholars, or practitioners

6. Quality and Precision

  • Clarity: Avoid jargon and ensure concise, accessible language.

  • Technical Precision: All terms, variables, and concepts should be defined consistently and used unambiguously throughout the paper. Avoid inconsistent terminology or vague constructs.

7. Revisions and Review Process

  • Minor Revisions: Reviewed by the handling Associate Editor. Authors must submit a response letter detailing how reviewer comments were addressed.

  • Major Revisions: Typically sent back to the original reviewers for evaluation. A detailed cover letter responding to each reviewer comment is required.

8. Confidentiality

All manuscripts are treated as confidential throughout the review process. Authors may not share, distribute, or cite under-review manuscripts. Reviewer identities remain anonymous. All communications must be handled professionally and respectfully.

9. Submission Instructions

Please ensure your manuscript follows the formatting and submission requirements outlined in the journal’s official template, available on the Future–RERD Submission Portal.

If you encounter technical issues or need clarification, please contact the editorial office:

Email: rerd@fupress.org