AI Policy

Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies Policy

The Journal of Economics, Business, and Government Challenges (JoEBGC) recognizes that generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies can support academic research and scholarly publishing. JoEBGC permits the responsible use of these technologies, provided that transparency, research integrity, confidentiality, and human accountability are maintained.
This policy applies to authors, reviewers, and editors involved in the journal publication process.

Policy for Authors
Authors may use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies to support manuscript preparation, including language improvement, literature organization, and content structuring. However, these tools must not replace the authors critical thinking, academic judgment, original contribution, or responsibility for their research.
Authors are required to:

  • Maintain human oversight. Authors must carefully review and verify AI generated content, including factual claims, interpretations, and references.
  • Ensure originality and integrity. AI must not be used to fabricate or falsify research data, results, references, or evidence, or to misrepresent another persons work as original.
  • Disclose AI use. The use of generative AI or AI assisted technologies in manuscript preparation must be declared in a separate statement in the manuscript. The declaration should identify the tool used, its purpose, and confirm that the authors reviewed the output and accept full responsibility for the published content.
  • Protect confidentiality and intellectual property. Authors must ensure that the use of AI tools does not compromise unpublished research, personal data, confidential information, or third party rights.
  • Retain authorship responsibility. AI tools cannot be listed as authors or coauthors. All listed authors must meet the journals authorship requirements and remain accountable for the manuscript.

Basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation checks do not require disclosure. However, substantive AI assisted writing, rewriting, translation, or content development must be disclosed.

AI Disclosure Statement
When generative AI or AI assisted technologies have been used in manuscript preparation, authors should include a declaration before the References section.
Suggested format:
During the preparation of this manuscript, the author(s) used [name of AI tool] for [specific purpose]. The author(s) reviewed and edited the generated content as necessary and take full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the published work.
If AI tools are used as part of the research methodology, such as data analysis, coding, or predictive modeling, their use must also be described in the Methods section with sufficient detail to support transparency and reproducibility.
If no generative AI or AI assisted technology requiring disclosure was used, no declaration is necessary.

AI-Generated Figures, Images, and Data
Authors are responsible for ensuring that all figures, images, tables, and visualizations are accurate, original, and properly attributed.
AI tools must not be used to fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent research data, findings, or evidence. AI assisted data visualizations must be based on actual research data and produced using methods that can be explained and reproduced.
The use of AI to create explanatory diagrams or illustrations must be disclosed in the relevant figure caption and the manuscript AI declaration. Authors must also comply with applicable copyright, licensing, and research integrity requirements.

Policy for Reviewers
Peer reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and related editorial communications.
Reviewers must not upload submitted manuscripts, unpublished research, or confidential manuscript content to AI tools, as doing so may compromise confidentiality, intellectual property, and data privacy.
AI tools may be used for limited supportive tasks, provided confidentiality is protected. Reviewers remain responsible for their independent academic assessment, comments, and recommendations. Any substantive AI assistance in preparing a review report must be disclosed to the editor, including the tool used and its purpose

Policy for Editors
Editors must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and editorial communications
Editors must not upload submitted manuscripts or confidential manuscript content to AI tools. AI may be used only for appropriate supportive tasks that do not expose confidential content
Editorial decisions, peer review assessments, and publication decisions must remain under human control. Editors retain full responsibility for the fairness, integrity, and transparency of the editorial process

Compliance and Editorial Action
JoEBGC reserves the right to request clarification or additional information regarding the use of AI when necessary to assess manuscript integrity
Undisclosed or inappropriate AI use, fabricated data or references, plagiarism, or other violations of publication ethics may result in further investigation and appropriate editorial action, in accordance with the journals publication ethics policies

Reference Policy
This policy is informed by Elseviers Generative AI Policies for Journals and is adapted for the editorial practices of JoEBGC
JoEBGC may update this policy as AI technologies, scholarly publishing practices, and research-integrity standards evolve