2011 Editor Report

• Date: 01 December 2011
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6975.2011.01440.x
• Published date: 01 December 2011
• Author: Georges Dionne

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The Journal of Risk and Insurance, 2011, Vol. 78, No. 4, 1033-1042

DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6975.2011.01440.x

2011 EDITOR REPORT

Here is the printed version of the report of the editor as presented to the ARIA meeting

in August 2011.

1. SUBMISSIONS AND PUBLICATION STATISTICS (JULY 18, 2011)

Table 1 provides the historical summary of JRI statistics, including resubmissions

as before 2007. This table updates the historical trends in submissions, acceptance

rates, and international submission rates (outside of the USA). It also presents the

average processing time. The number of submissions increased significantly to 253

in 2010. The acceptance rate has consistently been below 20 percent since 2006. The

average processing time decreased significantly to an average of 101 days in 2010.

The number of submissions in Table 1 includes resubmissions. The numbers in Table

2 reflect new submissions only. This presentation style has a significant effect on the

numbers and particularly on the acceptance rates. The second table also shows a

continuous decrease in the acceptance rate of new submissions.

The number of new submissions is quite stable since 2006. The average processing

time is also affected by the second method of presenting statistics, shown in Table 2,

because the peer-review process is shorter in the second run. The average processing

time in Table2 applies to the first submission, while Table 1 shows the average over the

total number of rounds for which the paper receives a different manuscript number.

Many journals publish the type of statistics shown in Table 2, which seem to have the

greatest influence over where authors decide to submit their articles for publication.

They also paint a more accurate picture of new submissions and acceptance rates.

Since January 2007, we have been suggesting a 3-month deadline to the referees. We

have also adopted a screening process whereby we return some manuscripts to the

authors without a detailed referee report. This screening is usually done by the editor

or an associate editor whose expert knowledge on the subject qualifies him or her

to decide whether to reject the paper or send it to referees. The two main reasons

for returning a paper after the screening process are: (1) a low probability that it will

measure up to the standards of the Journal and (2) lack of a link between the content

of the paper and the mission of the Journal. The screening process seems to have

improved the average processing time in both tables.

The last column of both tables provides the international submission rates. A paper

is considered international if the affiliation of the corresponding author is outside

the United States. Before 2007, a different criterion applied. A paper was considered

international if the affiliation of any one of its authors was outside the USA. We have

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