The pressure to publish shapes almost every decision an early-career economist or management scholar makes — which projects to pursue, which co-authors to work with, even which conferences to attend. “Publish or perish” can feel like a threat, but treated strategically, it’s also a roadmap. The scholars who navigate it best aren’t necessarily the most brilliant researchers; they’re the ones who publish deliberately rather than reactively.
Build a Portfolio, Not Just a Pipeline
Rather than chasing one big paper at a time, aim for a mix: a flagship project that could land in a top journal, alongside smaller, faster papers that keep your publication record active while the larger project matures. This diversification protects you from the risk of a single slow-moving paper stalling your entire output.
Match Ambition to Timeline
Every paper doesn’t need to target the most prestigious outlet in the field. A well-executed study published in a solid, respected journal like the Journal of Economics and Management often does more for a young scholar’s momentum than a longshot submission that spends two years in review before rejection. Review the journal’s scope to see where a given paper might be a strong, timely fit.
Treat Co-Authorship as a Force Multiplier
Strategic co-authorship — pairing your specific expertise with a collaborator’s complementary skills — can meaningfully increase both output and quality. This works best when roles and contributions are agreed on explicitly and early, before the writing begins.
Don’t Let Perfectionism Become a Bottleneck
Many early-career researchers hold papers back for “one more robustness check” long after the paper is genuinely submission-ready. At some point, further internal revision has diminishing returns compared to what reviewer feedback can teach you. Submit, then refine based on real feedback.
Keep a Standing List of Paper Ideas
The scholars who publish consistently rarely start each new project from a blank page. Maintain a running list of research questions, data sources you’ve noticed, and half-formed ideas — when one project stalls or gets rejected, you have somewhere to redirect your energy immediately.
Use Conferences and Working Papers Strategically
Presenting work-in-progress at conferences and posting working papers builds visibility and collects informal feedback before formal submission, often catching issues that would otherwise surface as reviewer criticisms months later.
Protect Time for Deep Work
Publication output ultimately depends on protected, uninterrupted writing and analysis time. Many early-career scholars underestimate how much administrative and teaching load can quietly crowd out the hours that actually produce publishable work — guarding blocks of time for this is a strategic decision, not a luxury.
A Balanced View of the Pressure
“Publish or perish” is real, but treating every paper as an existential threat leads to rushed work and burnout. The healthiest long-term strategy treats publishing as a disciplined, sustainable practice — building a body of work steadily rather than sprinting toward every deadline in crisis mode.
For broader perspective on academic career pressures and strategies for managing them sustainably, the Chronicle of Higher Education regularly covers early-career publishing and career-development topics across disciplines.
Have a paper ready to move from your pipeline into submission? Review the scope of Journal of Economics and Management and submit through the paper submission page.