BALANCE: Economic, Business, Management and Accounting Journal provides a space for post-publication discussion as part of its commitment to scientific integrity, transparency, and the advancement of knowledge in the fields of economics, business, management, and accounting.

Post-publication discussion offers readers, researchers, and academics the opportunity to provide scholarly responses, constructive criticism, clarifications, or additional information regarding published articles. Through this mechanism, the journal encourages an objective, professional exchange of ideas grounded in scientific evidence.

1. Scope of Discussion

Post-publication discussions may cover:

a. Clarifications regarding concepts, theories, research methods, data analysis, or the interpretation of results in a published article.

b. Academic critiques of arguments, findings, conclusions, or research implications.

c. The presentation of additional empirical evidence, references, or theoretical perspectives relevant to the article.

d. The identification of potential errors in data, calculations, analysis, citations, or the reporting of research results.

e. Responses concerning the relevance and application of research findings within the practice of economics, business, management, and accounting.

f. Information regarding alleged breaches of research or publication ethics that require editorial attention.

2. Submission of Responses and Comments

Readers wishing to provide feedback on a published article may contact the editorial team of BALANCE: Economic, Business, Management and Accounting Journal via the journal’s official email address or by following the comment submission process available on the journal’s website.

Each response must clearly identify the article under discussion, including the title, author(s), year of publication, and the DOI or a link to the article (if available). Responses must be supported by relevant arguments, sufficient evidence, and, where necessary, scholarly references.

The editorial team may request that the author(s) of the article in question provide a response or clarification. Where relevant, such responses and replies may be considered for publication as separate scholarly communications, in accordance with the journal’s editorial policy.

3. Editorial Review Process

All submitted responses, comments, and replies will be evaluated by the editors to assess their academic relevance, the quality of the arguments, the soundness of the evidence, and their alignment with the journal’s scope.

The editors may request an assessment from independent reviewers if a response requires a more in-depth methodological, statistical, theoretical, or substantive evaluation. The final decision to publish a response or reply rests with the editors, based on academic considerations and publication ethics.

Submissions that are irrelevant, lack sufficient supporting evidence, contain personal attacks, or violate publication ethics may be rejected. This process is conducted in a fair, objective, and proportionate manner, without discrimination against differing academic viewpoints.

4. Authors’ Right of Reply

Authors of the article under discussion are granted a reasonable opportunity to respond to relevant criticisms, comments, or questions. The authors’ replies must be presented professionally, grounded in evidence, and focused on academic substance.

If the responses and replies meet editorial standards, the journal may publish them—either separately or together—to ensure readers gain a balanced perspective. The absence of a reply from the authors within the timeframe set by the editors does not, in itself, invalidate a response that otherwise meets the requirements for publication.

5. Corrections, Retractions, and Alleged Ethical Misconduct

If post-publication discussion reveals potential substantive errors, issues regarding data integrity, plagiarism, manipulation of results, or other ethical violations, the editorial team will conduct an investigation based on the available evidence and provide the involved parties an opportunity to offer clarification. When necessary, a journal may issue a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction, depending on the nature of the issue and the findings of an investigation. Such decisions shall be made in accordance with the journal’s publication ethics policy and the relevant principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Post-publication discussion does not automatically necessitate the alteration or retraction of an article. Any editorial action must be based on a careful evaluation, sufficient evidence, and fair procedures.

6. Ethics of Academic Discussion

All parties involved in post-publication discussion are required to uphold the ethics of academic communication by:

•          Presenting criticism objectively, courteously, and based on scientific evidence.

•          Refraining from personal attacks, insults, discrimination, or unsubstantiated accusations.

•          Respecting intellectual property rights and providing appropriate citations.

•          Disclosing any relevant conflicts of interest.

•          Maintaining the confidentiality of non-public information obtained through the editorial process.

•          Avoiding the dissemination of misleading information regarding articles, authors, or the editorial process.

7. Transparency and Documentation

BALANCE: Economic, Business, Management and Accounting Journal strives to maintain transparency in handling post-publication discussions. Whenever responses, replies, corrections, or editorial notices are published, they will be linked to the relevant article—wherever possible—to ensure readers can understand the context of the discussion and any developments regarding the publication status.

The entire process of handling discussions and addressing potential integrity issues will be documented by the editorial team, in accordance with the journal’s requirements and confidentiality policies.

Through this policy, BALANCE: Economic, Business, Management and Accounting Journal fosters a culture of open, responsible, and constructive scholarly discussion, aimed at enhancing the quality of publications and strengthening trust in the published research findings.