Engaging in research activities while still in high school is an effective way to demonstrate academic proficiency in a particular field. Getting your study published provides your work with objective credibility and technical backing from already-established scholars. However, it is important first to understand the publication process and the distinct advantages of selecting a journal tailored to the economic sciences.
For economics research, selecting an economics-specific journal or a multidisciplinary journal with a strong social science focus allows you to showcase your proficiency in specialized methodologies. These platforms often employ reviewers with the expertise to evaluate econometric models, statistical significance, and theoretical frameworks. Publishing in a focused journal signals to university admissions committees that you have moved beyond general academic interests and have mastered the rigorous standards of a professional discipline. In addition, specialized journals can provide feedback that is more relevant to your future academic trajectory in economics than general-interest student publications.
Why should you publish your research?
Getting your research published is not a strictly mandatory step for university applications, and many students gain admission to competitive programs without a formal publication. However, there is significant academic value in navigating the publication cycle. A researcher’s role involves not only the study of a subject but also the communication of their findings to the broader scholarly community. Having your work critically reviewed by Ph.D. researchers allows you to identify academic loopholes and refine your analytical skills. You’ll also gain experience in incorporating professional feedback and communicating with editorial teams. Finally, a published paper provides external verification of your work’s quality. Whether you are applying to college or a specialized summer program, research that has undergone peer review makes a stronger impression than unpublished manuscripts.
In this guide, we’ve provided recommendations for economics research journals that accept high school student papers.
You can also check out these blogs on economics programs in Texas and NYC for a more immersive introduction to the field.
1. The Concord Review (TCR)
Cost: $70 – $150 (membership-based)
Timeline: Submission deadlines: February 1; May 1; August 1; November 1
Subject Area: Historical topics, including economic history
Type of Research: Original research essays of sole authorship
Eligibility Requirements: High school students who have not yet started university
Acceptance Rate: Less than 5%
The Concord Review is the only quarterly journal in the world to publish the academic research papers of secondary students. Its prestige stems from a high level of selectivity and a long track record of published authors attending top-tier universities. Since it is a history journal, it allows you to publish research at the intersection of economic history and the evolution of financial systems. You must prepare a manuscript of significant length, as the average published paper is over 8,000 words, with Turabian (Chicago style) endnotes and bibliography. The review process is rigorous, and the quality of writing must meet professional standards to be considered. It is a quarterly publication that provides you with a significant academic credential if your work is accepted.
2. Berkeley Economic Review (High School Contest)
Cost: No cost
Timeline: Submission deadline: March 14 for the Spring contest (details here)
Subject Area: Prompt-based
Type of Research: Evidence-based essays
Eligibility Requirements: High school students globally
Acceptance Rate: 3% – 5%
The Berkeley Economic Review is a premier undergraduate economics journal at the University of California, Berkeley. Each year, it hosts a high school essay contest where you must respond to a specific prompt with an evidence-based analysis, with the latest prompts being “The Economics of Artificial Intelligence” and “Education and the Cost of College.” Winning entries are featured in the journal’s magazine, Equilibrium, which is widely read by the academic community at Berkeley. This competition allows you to showcase your ability to apply economic theory to current global challenges. It is judged by a panel of undergraduate students and faculty, ensuring a high standard of professional evaluation. If you want a solid introduction to economics research, this competition is a good place to get started, as its submission requirements are not as intense as those of bigger journals.
3. Journal of Emerging Investigators (JEI)
Cost: $35 submission fee (waivers available)
Timeline: Rolling submissions with a 7-8 month review process (details here)
Subject Area: STEM and social sciences
Type of Research: Original hypothesis-driven research
Eligibility Requirements: Middle and high school students with a senior mentor
Acceptance Rate: 70-75%
The Journal of Emerging Investigators is a non-profit, open-access journal founded by graduate students at Harvard University. It is particularly well known for its extensive review process, which can take over half a year to complete. You must ensure your economics research is hypothesis-driven and based on original data rather than being a literature review. While the journal is dominated by STEM subjects, it accepts quantitative research on financial markets or demographic trends. The peer-review process is designed to be educational, providing you with detailed feedback from active researchers. Just make sure you have a senior author to co-author your paper, because JEI does not accept high school students as sole authors; each paper must have both a senior author and a high school author.
4. Journal of High School Science (JHSS)
Cost: $65 for manuscript submission
Timeline: Rolling submissions; At least a month to review
Subject Area: Social sciences and STEM
Type of Research: Original articles, Review papers, Technical notes, and Case studies
Eligibility Requirements: High school students
Acceptance Rate: 27%
The Journal of High School Science is a peer-reviewed STEM journal that also welcomes high-quality social science research. You are required to submit manuscripts that follow a specific template and undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review. The journal focuses on maintaining a professional standard that mirrors senior academic publications. It accepts a variety of research types, providing multiple avenues to publication. Because of its low acceptance rate, it is a suitable option for students who have produced original, data-backed economics research.
5. Young Scientist Journal (YSJ)
Cost: No cost
Timeline: Submission window: November 1 – December 1
Subject Area: STEM, policy, philosophy, ethics
Type of Research: Original research papers, articles
Eligibility Requirements: Students aged 12-20
Acceptance Rate: 10% – 15%
The Young Scientist Journal is an international publication that recognizes the achievements of high school researchers. It was founded at The King’s School, Canterbury, and has grown into a global platform for original scholarship, featuring papers from over 50 countries and boasting 1.5 million visits. Due to the nature of the publication, it’s a good target for research at the intersection of economics and mathematics or policy. The review process is managed by a team of junior and senior editors with oversight from academic advisors. You must be prepared for a review period that can last up to six months before final publication.
6. STEM Fellowship Journal (SFJ)
Cost: CA $400
Timeline: Rolling submissions; 2-6 week review time
Subject Area: STEM, quantitative social sciences
Type of Research: Original investigations, review articles, viewpoint articles, conference proceedings
Eligibility Requirements: High school and undergraduate students
Acceptance Rate: 5% – 10%
The STEM Fellowship Journal is a Canadian, open-access, peer-reviewed journal published by Canadian Science Publishing. You can submit economics papers that utilize mathematical modeling, data science, or statistical analysis. The journal is highly selective and maintains professional standards identical to those of senior academic publications. It is a strong choice for students whose economics research has a heavy emphasis on quantitative methods or interdisciplinary science. The journal provides a formal platform for high-quality scholarly investigations.
7. The Schola
Cost: $180 per submission
Timeline: Rolling submissions (accepted year-round); 2-3 week review; Quarterly publication
Subject Area: Humanities, social sciences
Type of Research: Academic essays, research papers
Eligibility Requirements: High school students
Acceptance Rate: Not specified; More details here
The Schola is a peer-reviewed quarterly journal that focuses on academic essays in the humanities and social sciences. Due to this focus, they accept economics essays that intersect with public policy, sociology, or philosophical questions within the discipline; heavily quantitative economics essays will not be accepted. The journal maintains high academic standards through a process of rigorous review and editorial refinement. You are encouraged to submit essays of 5,500 – 6,500 words that tackle specific, answerable academic questions. If your economic research is more abstract and not a quantitative analysis, then this publication is a top contender for submission. You can find more information here.
8. International Journal of High School Research (IJHSR)
Cost: $300 publication fee; No submission fees
Timeline: Rolling submissions; 1-3 month review timeline
Subject Area: Social and behavioral science, medical and health sciences, chemistry, biology, physics, earth science, engineering, mathematics, computer science and software engineering, materials science, economics, finance, sociology, and psychology
Type of Research: Research articles, literature reviews
Eligibility Requirements: High school students globally
Acceptance Rate: Extremely selective
The International Journal of High School Research is managed by Terra Science and Education and publishes work in both STEM and social sciences. You can submit original research or literature review articles through their rolling submission window. A unique requirement for this journal is that you must identify and contact three professors or scholars who agree to review your paper. This task is time-consuming and requires you to start the submission process much earlier than other journals. The journal offers open access to the public, ensuring your findings are accessible to a global audience.
9. The Young Researcher (TYR)
Cost: No cost
Timeline: Submission deadline: April 30; 1-month review time
Subject Area: Social sciences, humanities, sciences
Type of Research: Original research papers
Eligibility Requirements: High school students globally
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
The Young Researcher is an international, peer-reviewed journal that focuses on the original research of high school students. You can submit economics work that demonstrates a mastery of research methodology and high academic quality. The journal’s editorial board consists of university professors and experienced scholars who provide a rigorous evaluation of each manuscript. You must limit your paper to 5,000 words and work with a faculty advisor during the submission process. This journal is entirely open-access and does not charge fees, making it accessible to all students.
10. Oxford Journal of Student Scholarship (OJSS)
Cost: $200
Timeline: Rolling submissions; 8-12 week review
Subject Area: STEM, humanities, social sciences
Type of Research: Original research, literature reviews
Eligibility Requirements: High school and undergraduate students
Acceptance Rate: 40% – 50%
The Oxford Journal of Student Scholarship is a multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal that supports students in the publication process. It accepts work across all fields, making it a flexible choice for interdisciplinary economics research. The journal is supportive yet maintains a level of selectivity that ensures the quality of published work. You will receive detailed reviewer feedback, which is particularly helpful if you are new to academic writing. It is an ideal platform for projects that may not fit exclusively into a single academic discipline. The open-access nature of the journal ensures that your scholarship is widely available.
11. Critical Debates in Humanities, Science, and Global Justice
Cost: $100
Timeline: Deadlines: April 25, July 30, and December 10 for quarterly publications; Up to a month-long review process
Subject Area: Humanities, social policy, and more (see here)
Type of Research: Research articles, academic blogs
Eligibility Requirements: High school students globally
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective; 15-18% (research articles); 40% (academic blogs)
Critical Debates is a selective, peer-reviewed academic journal that invites you to explore questions of public policy and human rights from a scientific or mathematical lens. You can submit economics research that addresses global justice, public policy, or the social factors influencing economic systems. The journal is supported by university scholars and emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking and scholarly dialogue. You will have the opportunity to engage with contemporary academic conversations and contribute to the understanding of global issues. Publication here demonstrates your ability to apply economic analysis to broader societal challenges.
12. National High School Journal of Science (NHSJS)
Cost: $390 for publication
Timeline: Rolling submissions; 3-5 months (total timeline)
Subject Area: STEM, policy, and social sciences
Type of Research: Original research, reports (see here)
Eligibility Requirements: High school students globally
Acceptance Rate: 60% – 70%
The National High School Journal of Science is an international, student-run journal with a scientific advisory board of adult academics. You can submit economics research under their social science category. The journal accepts both original studies and economic reports. The review process typically involves an initial decision within three months, followed by an editing phase. Because of its relatively high acceptance rate, it is often considered a reliable option for students seeking their first publication experience. You can find more information in their submission guidelines.
13. Open Journal of Business and Management (OJBM)
Cost: $299 publication fee
Timeline: Rolling submissions; Monthly publication with a 2-4 week review time
Subject Area: Economics, business
Type of Research: Original research articles, review articles
Eligibility Requirements: All researchers globally
Acceptance Rate: 15% – 20% (for high schoolers)
The Open Journal of Business and Management is an international journal dedicated to advancements in business and economics. It is one of the few professional journals that actively accepts research from high school students in specific areas like macroeconomics and financial markets. You should note that the journal makes a clear distinction between business concepts and pure economics, though both are welcome. The publication process is known for being quick, often providing an acceptance notification within a few weeks of submission. It is a strong choice if your research has practical applications for industry or market analysis. The journal provides an open-access platform that ensures your work is indexed in major academic databases.
14. The Curieux Review
Cost: $200 for seasonal review; $250 for fast-track review
Timeline: Rolling submissions; 2-3 months for review; 3 weeks for fast-track review
Subject Area: STEM, humanities, social sciences
Type of Research: Research papers, review articles
Eligibility Requirements: Middle and high school students
Acceptance Rate: 35% – 50%
The Curieux Review is a youth-led nonprofit focused on providing research opportunities for high school students. You can submit economics research ranging from theoretical essays to data-driven market analysis. The journal offers a frequent publication schedule, which is beneficial if you are working within a tight academic timeframe. Each submission undergoes a peer-review process where editors verify factual accuracy and logical structure. It provides a supportive environment for students who are gaining their first experience in academic writing.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in economics and econometrics, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image Source – The Curieux Review