CORRECTION AND RETRACTION POLICY

1. Policy Statement

Law and Economics is committed to preserving the accuracy, reliability, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record. The journal takes all substantiated concerns regarding errors, research misconduct, and the reliability of published articles seriously.

The journal requires authors to report significant errors identified after publication and reserves the right to publish corrections, expressions of concern, or retraction notices when warranted by the evidence.

Publication does not exempt an article from subsequent scrutiny. If an error or ethical violation is identified after publication, the journal will assess the matter and take appropriate action regardless of the authors' academic position, institutional affiliation, seniority, or willingness to cooperate.

Editorial decisions under this policy will be based on the available evidence, the seriousness of the issue, its effect on the reliability of the article, and applicable publication ethics standards.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all articles published in Law and Economics, including original research articles, review articles, theoretical papers, policy analyses, case studies, and other scholarly contributions.

It covers:

Corrections of errors in published articles.
Corrections to author names, affiliations, acknowledgments, funding information, and disclosures.
Expressions of concern regarding unresolved questions about a publication.
Retractions arising from unreliable findings, serious research misconduct, or other grounds that warrant retraction.
Requests for correction or retraction submitted by authors, readers, reviewers, editors, institutions, or other relevant parties.

The journal will assess each case individually and apply the appropriate action according to the evidence and the circumstances.

3. Corrections

A correction will be considered when a published article contains a verified error or omission that requires amendment but does not justify retraction.

Corrections may address, where appropriate:

Factual errors or incorrect statements.
Calculation errors that can be corrected without invalidating the principal findings.
Errors in tables, figures, equations, or supplementary materials.
Incorrect author names or institutional affiliations.
Inaccurate acknowledgments or funding information.
Omitted or incorrect conflict of interest disclosures.
Errors in references, citations, or other publication details.
Other errors that could mislead readers but can be remedied without withdrawing the article.

3.1. Correction Procedure

When an error is identified, the journal will:

Assess the nature and significance of the reported error.
Request clarification and supporting evidence from the authors or other relevant parties, where necessary.
Determine whether the error affects the interpretation, validity, or reliability of the published work.
Decide whether a formal correction is necessary.
Publish a correction notice describing the error and the amendment made.
Link the correction notice to the original article and maintain a transparent publication record.

The original article will remain accessible unless another editorial action is justified. The correction notice must clearly identify the affected article and explain the nature of the correction.

3.2. Author Responsibilities

Authors must promptly notify the editorial office when they discover a significant error in their published work.

Authors must provide an accurate explanation of the error, identify the affected sections, and submit the proposed correction with supporting evidence where appropriate.

Failure to cooperate does not prevent the journal from investigating a credible concern or issuing a correction when the evidence justifies editorial action.

4. Expression of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be issued when credible evidence raises substantial questions about a published article, but the journal cannot yet reach a definitive conclusion.

This action may be appropriate when:

A formal investigation into suspected research misconduct is ongoing.
Important research data or documentation cannot yet be verified.
Serious questions have arisen about the reliability of the findings.
The journal is awaiting information from an institution or another competent authority.
The available evidence is insufficient to justify either a correction or a retraction, but readers should be informed of the unresolved concern.

An Expression of Concern is a notice of an unresolved issue, not a final finding that misconduct has occurred.

The notice will identify the affected article, explain the nature of the concern to the extent reasonably possible, and provide an update when the matter is resolved, where appropriate.

The journal may subsequently issue a correction, retract the article, or remove the Expression of Concern if the evidence supports that decision.

5. Retraction

Retraction is a formal editorial action used to alert readers that a published article should no longer be relied upon in whole or in substantial part.

The journal may retract an article when reliable evidence establishes that its findings or publication integrity are seriously compromised. Retraction may be necessary regardless of whether the problem arose from intentional misconduct, serious error, or another circumstance that warrants withdrawal under applicable publication ethics standards.

Grounds for retraction may include, but are not limited to:

Fabrication of Data: Research data, observations, results, or evidence were invented and presented as genuine.
Falsification of Data: Data, methods, analyses, images, or results were manipulated in a way that materially misrepresents the research.
Plagiarism: Substantial plagiarism or unauthorized appropriation of another person's scholarly work has been established.
Unreliable Findings: Serious errors invalidate the principal results, conclusions, or essential scholarly contribution.
Duplicate or Redundant Publication: The article substantially duplicates another publication in circumstances that warrant retraction.
Unethical Research Practices: Significant ethical violations undermine the legitimacy or integrity of the research.
Manipulation of the Publication Process: Fraudulent peer review, fabricated documentation, or other serious manipulation has compromised the publication.
Unauthorized or Fraudulent Use of Material: Serious copyright violations or misrepresentation of ownership materially compromise the article.
Other Serious Breaches: Other substantiated circumstances that fundamentally undermine the reliability or integrity of the published record.

Retraction will not be imposed solely because an article presents an unpopular conclusion, challenges an established theory, contains a minor correctable error, or is subject to legitimate scholarly disagreement.

6. Retraction Procedure

When grounds for possible retraction arise, the journal will follow a documented and evidence-based procedure.

6.1. Identification and Preliminary Assessment

The journal may initiate an assessment following a report from an author, reader, reviewer, editor, institution, or other credible source.

The editorial team will examine the allegation, available evidence, and potential effect on the reliability or integrity of the article.

6.2. Notification and Opportunity to Respond

Where appropriate, the journal will notify the corresponding author and provide a reasonable opportunity to respond to the specific concerns.

The journal may request original data, research records, ethical approval documentation, publication history, or other relevant evidence.

Authors are expected to respond honestly and cooperate with reasonable requests. However, failure to respond or disagreement with the proposed action will not automatically prevent the journal from proceeding when the available evidence supports retraction.

6.3. Independent Assessment

Where the matter is complex, contested, or requires specialized expertise, the journal may consult independent experts or the relevant research institution.

The journal may refer suspected research misconduct to an appropriate institution or authority for formal investigation. The journal retains responsibility for editorial decisions concerning its own publication record.

6.4. Editorial Decision

The editor or an appropriately authorized independent editor will determine the appropriate action based on the evidence, the seriousness of the issue, and applicable publication ethics standards.

If the evidence establishes that retraction is warranted, the journal may proceed even if one or more authors object.

The journal will document the decision and its rationale.

7. Publication of Retraction Notices

Every retraction must be accompanied by a clear and publicly accessible retraction notice.

The notice should:

Identify the title, authors, and bibliographic details of the affected article.
State explicitly that the article has been retracted.
Explain the reasons for retraction with sufficient detail to inform readers.
Distinguish established findings from allegations that remain unresolved.
Identify the party initiating the retraction, where appropriate and known.
Be linked to the original article wherever technically possible.

The journal will preserve the publication record and maintain the original article as part of that record, clearly marked as retracted, except where removal of particular material is required by law, privacy obligations, or another compelling circumstance.

A retracted article must not continue to be presented as an unaffected, reliable publication.

The retraction notice should remain accessible even when the article is no longer available in its original form.

8. Author Agreement and Disagreement

Authors are encouraged to cooperate in correcting or retracting an article when the evidence demonstrates that editorial action is warranted.

However, the journal does not require unanimous author agreement to issue a justified correction, Expression of Concern, or retraction.

If authors disagree with a proposed action, the journal will consider their explanations and relevant evidence before making its decision.

An author's refusal to consent does not, by itself, invalidate substantiated evidence or prevent the journal from protecting the scholarly record.

Where appropriate, the journal may document the existence of disagreement in the editorial record or the relevant notice.

9. Requests for Correction or Retraction

Requests may be submitted by authors, readers, researchers, reviewers, institutions, or other individuals with relevant information.

A request should include:

The title and publication details of the affected article.
A clear description of the error or suspected violation.
Supporting evidence or documentation.
An explanation of how the issue affects the article's accuracy, reliability, or integrity.
Contact information for follow-up, where available.

The journal will assess requests objectively. Submission of a request does not guarantee that a correction or retraction will be issued.

Knowingly submitting fabricated evidence or making deliberately false allegations may itself constitute a serious breach of ethical standards.

10. Editorial Independence and Fair Treatment

Correction and retraction decisions must be based on evidence and research integrity, not personal relationships, academic rank, institutional influence, financial considerations, or pressure from authors or other interested parties.

The journal will handle concerns as confidentially as reasonably possible during the assessment process, subject to the requirements of a fair investigation and applicable law.

Individuals directly affected by an editorial decision may request reconsideration by providing relevant new evidence or identifying a significant procedural error.

Reconsideration will not automatically suspend an editorial action that is necessary to protect readers from materially unreliable findings.

11. Responsibilities of Authors, Editors, and Institutions

11.1. Authors

Authors must:

Notify the journal promptly of significant errors in their published work.
Provide accurate explanations and supporting documentation.
Cooperate with editorial inquiries and legitimate investigations.
Avoid concealing evidence that materially affects the reliability of their research.
Participate in corrections when necessary.

11.2. Editors

Editors must:

Assess reported concerns objectively and consistently.
Distinguish correctable errors from issues requiring retraction.
Provide a reasonable opportunity for relevant parties to respond where appropriate.
Consult independent experts when necessary.
Document significant decisions and their rationale.
Publish appropriate notices to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

11.3. Institutions and Other Authorities

Where formal investigation is necessary, the journal may request assistance from the relevant research institution, ethics committee, funding organization, or other competent authority.

Institutional findings may inform the journal's decision, but the journal will independently determine the appropriate editorial action for its publication record.

12. Final Policy and Enforcement

Law and Economics reserves the right to correct, flag, or retract published articles when justified by reliable evidence and applicable publication ethics standards.

All authors are responsible for the integrity of their published work. The journal will not permit the publication record to remain materially misleading when a significant error or serious ethical violation has been established.

Failure to cooperate, disagreement with the editorial decision, or refusal to authorize a justified retraction will not automatically prevent appropriate editorial action.

The journal is committed to applying this policy consistently, transparently, and proportionately to protect readers, uphold research integrity, and maintain confidence in scholarly publishing.

This policy will be reviewed periodically and updated when necessary to reflect developments in publication ethics and responsible editorial practice.