Vision Statement of the Editors of The Journal of Industrial Economics

We at the JIE believe that industrial organisation is the disciplined application of economic principles to explain and predict real-world behaviour of firms, markets and industries. We therefore wish to emphasise fact-centred research, in which the empirical work attempts to establish economic regularities and the theory is motivated by those empirical findings. To this end, we are soliciting papers that:

--- in empirical work, stress convincing and significant findings of fact. Careful establishment of an interesting or puzzling empirical regularity is of value to the field even if the author may not have a convincing explanation for the phenomenon.

--- in theoretical work, stress relatively robust ideas, and combine theory with a sense of empirical magnitudes. Even back-of-the-envelope calculations can help us relate the theory to empirically important phenomena.

--- organise and analyse a body of facts about a firm, an industry, or a business practice according to economic principles. Such a case study must go well beyond the purely descriptive by illuminating the ways in which industry practice and institutions can be understood in terms of economic principles. Factors that resist economic explanation also should be identified.

We think that high-quality work along these lines exists (and could be produced), but does not necessarily conform to the current standard of academic industrial organisation methodology and too often draws comments such as "Very interesting, but where can you publish it?" We are keen enough on this style of work that we hope to make it a mainstay of the JIE. We believe this initiative will fill a need that has not been satisfied by the existing journals. We hope you agree with us.

The Editors of The Journal of Industrial Economics
 

Pierre Régibeau (General Editor) Yeon-Koo Che
Kenneth Corts Thomas Hubbard
Patrick Legros Frank Verboven

Editorial Mission

Published first in 1952, the Journal has a very wide international circulation, and has established itself as a leading journal in the field of industrial economics. It was founded to promote the analysis of modern industry, particularly the behaviour of firms and the functioning of markets.

Contributions are welcomed in all areas of industrial economics including: organisation of industry, applied oligopoly theory, product differentiation and technical change; theory of the firm and internal organisation; regulation, monopoly, merger and technology policy.

The Journal has a tradition of publishing a blend of theory and evidence. Theoretical papers are welcomed and should be presented so as to highlight their implications for policy and/or empirical analysis. Likewise, empirical papers should have a sound theoretical base; and where novel econometric techniques are applied these should be clearly explained. Case studies should be motivated by, and inform, economic theory and should avoid pure description.

The Editors are ready to publish shorter notes which report significant new data or empirical results, or are short comments on subjects which have featured in previous issues of the Journal. Books are not reviewed, but substantial review articles will be considered for publication.