On June 21, 2023, from 20:00 to 22:00 Beijing time, Erzo F.P. Luttmer, Editor-in-Chief of the esteemed economics journal American Economic Review and economics professor at Dartmouth College, delivered a special lecture titled "How to Successfully Navigate the Peer Review Process." This marked the commencement of the second event of the 2023 Economics Editor in Chief Meeting, the "Editor in Chief Series Special Lectures." Organized by the School of Economics and Management at Beijing Jiaotong University and co-sponsored by Elsevier Group and the Management Home Forum, the Editor-in-Chief Series of Special Lectures comprises seven sessions, each featuring a special invitation for an editor-in-chief to share their cutting-edge research. The special lecture took place in the form of a Zoom online conference, simultaneously broadcasted on two major platforms: Elsevier Video account and service account, and Management Home live streaming.

The first lecture was skillfully hosted by Professor Li Hongchang from the School of Economics and Management at Beijing Jiaotong University. The conference drew the attention of 9871 online viewers, with 248 attendees in the Zoom conference room, 8275 views on Elsevier, and 1348 views on Management Home.

Opening of Special Lecture by the Editor in Chief of American Economic Review, Top Journal of Economics

Led by Professor Li Hongchang from the School of Economics and Management at Beijing Jiaotong University

Erzo F.P. Luttmer, the Editor-in-Chief of the American Economic Review, holds the position of Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College in the United States. Additionally, he is a researcher at the National Bureau of Economic Research and serves as a senior researcher at IZA (Institute of Labor Economics). Professor Luttmer's research is dedicated to comprehending the factors driving the demand for redistribution and social insurance, as well as exploring ways to enhance the implementation of such projects. A distinctive feature of his work is the emphasis on the significant role of social effects in economic behavior. Many of his recent studies delve into the impact of cognitive limitations on the demand for social insurance projects and contribute insights to the design of effective social insurance initiatives. Professor Erzo F.P. Luttmer's extensive research portfolio reflects his commitment to advancing our understanding of key issues in the realms of redistribution, social insurance, and the intricate interplay of economic and social factors.Professor Erzo F.P. Luttmer shared his experience in this lecture under the theme of "How to Successfully Navigate the Peer Review Process", which mainly includes four parts: general recommendations; Submission skills as an author; Experience as a reviewer; Summary.

Professor Erzo F.P. Luttmer initially highlighted the importance of seeking guidance and suggestions on paper writing and submission from diverse sources, including mentors, friends, colleagues, and online resources. He underscored the significance of empathy in the scholarly journey, emphasizing that understanding the feelings and thoughts of others, especially in the peer review process, is crucial. In the context of writing and responding to reviews, Professor Luttmer advised authors to carefully consider the comments that reviewers or editors may provide for the paper. This thoughtful consideration, he noted, is instrumental in navigating the peer review process effectively and ensuring that the manuscript aligns with the expectations and insights of the reviewers and editors.

Subsequently, Professor Erzo F.P. Luttmer provided a detailed exploration of the writing and submission processes from the author's perspective. He thoroughly elucidated the considerations behind why, when, and to which journal an author should submit their research, as well as how to navigate the various stages of rejection, revision, and acceptance of a manuscript. Encouraging contributors to overcome the fear of delayed submissions due to concerns about the perfection of their research, Professor Luttmer emphasized the paramount importance of paper quality. He highlighted that even with good ideas, a paper may face challenges in publication if its logic is unclear or if it contains numerous errors. Furthermore, Professor Luttmer delved into the nuances of innovating in the depth and breadth of content. Addressing the common reader behavior of focusing on the abstract and introduction, he emphasized the careful conception of these sections, advocating for a clear explanation of the research's purpose and main findings. Regarding the interpretation of research results, Professor Luttmer suggested that when empirical results lack statistical significance, they still hold value if a reasonable and credible explanation can be provided for these outcomes.

Following that, Professor Erzo F.P. Luttmer shared his review experience from the perspective of the reviewer. He offered valuable insights on how to assess whether to accept a manuscript and provided guidance on crafting review comments in the event of rejecting a manuscript. Professor Luttmer emphasized that when scholars, in their role as reviewers, opt to reject a manuscript, it is crucial to meticulously articulate their review opinions while also acknowledging and appropriately praising the strengths and contributions of the manuscript.

Finally, Professor Erzo F.P. Luttmer acknowledged that while the peer review system is not flawless, there are currently no more viable alternatives. He expressed anticipation for collaborating with more scholars to enhance and refine the peer review system.

Professor Erzo F.P. Luttmer's lecture was highly substantive and garnered positive feedback from attendees. Throughout the presentation, he not only addressed questions raised by participants in Zoom conference rooms and academic exchange groups but also engaged in extensive discussions with scholars, researchers, and university teachers and students during the Q&A session. The discussions covered a wide array of topics, including research themes, paper content and format intricacies, introduction writing, data processing, and considerations for manuscript submissions.

Professor Erzo F.P. Luttmer shares his experience in submission and review

In this lecture, Professor Erzo F.P. Luttmer centered on the theme of "how to successfully respond to the peer review process," offering researchers detailed suggestions on writing, submitting, revising, and addressing review comments from the author's standpoint. Additionally, he shared valuable review experiences from the perspective of a reviewer, providing practical and effective guidance for high-quality academic research and writing.

The meticulous sharing of experiences and the multi-dimensional participation created an opportunity for all participants to engage in mutual learning and derive benefits from each other. Simultaneously, this laid a positive atmosphere and foundation for the forthcoming six special lectures.