The Ledger — Author Submission Guide
1 │ Scope & Tone
The Ledger publishes three tiers of articles on economic statecraft.
Co-authored papers and adversarial collaborations are welcome.
Shorter pieces—Dispatches and Insights—offer timely policy ideas, critiques, debates, and book reviews.
Features present research-caliber work grounded in recognized academic methods (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed) while still addressing real-world gaps.
2 │ Article Tiers
| Tier & Label | Core Formats | Target Length* | Review Model | Decision Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ledger Dispatches | • Op-eds • Commentaries • Point/Counter-point Debates |
1 000 words (range 800-1 200) |
Double-blind | 14 days |
| Ledger Insights | • Deep policy essays • Country/industry briefs • Book reviews |
4 000 words (range 3 000-5 000) |
Double-blind | 14 days |
| Ledger Features | • Research-calibre studies • Adversarial collaborations (two authors) |
10 000 words (range 8 000-16 000) |
Triple-blind | 4 weeks |
* Word count excludes footnotes, figures, and tables.
3 │ Submission Steps
Pitch first
Email a 150–200-word synopsis to [email protected] with the subject line
PITCH | Dispatch / Insight / Feature | Working Title.
Include a two-sentence bio and disclose any conflicts of interest.
Green light
We respond within the decision window above. If invited, submit a Word (.docx) file—no PDFs or Google Docs. Ensure the file is anonymized for blind review.
Review & Revision
- Dispatches: one round of edits; 7-day author turnaround.
- Insights: up to two rounds; 14-day author turnaround.
- Features: multiple rounds as required; 21-day author turnaround.
Exclusivity
Manuscripts may not be under review elsewhere. Withdrawals require written notice to the editor.
Editorial Review Team
Our reviewers combine academic expertise and policy practice across government and industry.
4 │ Formatting Quick-Start
- Use 12-pt font, single-spaced, and number pages.
- Provide clear sub-heads for Insights and Features.
- Citations:
- Dispatches: embedded hyperlinks preferred.
- Insights: embedded hyperlinks for non-academic pieces; Chicago Manual of Style footnotes for academic manuscripts.
- Features: Chicago Manual of Style (exceptions by agreement).
- Supply high-resolution images (PNG/JPG/SVG) plus underlying data; authors secure permissions.
- First-person is welcome for Dispatches and Insights, and by exception for Features.
5 │ Ethics & AI Disclosure
Plagiarism and undisclosed ghost-writing are prohibited. If generative AI tools aided drafting, analysis, or graphics, note the tool and scope in an endnote.
Authors should follow professional ethics guidelines such as APSA's Guide to Professional Ethics in Political Science (2012) and Principles and Guidance for Human Subjects Research (2020). For work involving human subjects, state IRB approval or exemption and be prepared to supply documentation.
6 │ After Acceptance
Accepted papers receive a tracked-changes edit; please respond within 5 business days. Final proofs are for typographical or formatting corrections only.
Questions?
Email [email protected].