Editorial

Citation

Akbar, Y.H. (2007), "Editorial", International Journal of Emerging Markets, Vol. 2 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijoem.2007.30102aaa.001

Editorial

We are into our second year at IJOEM and this editorial will serve both as a retrospective and prospective piece on developments this year.

First of all, it is hard to believe that we have completed one volume of the journal. We received well over 100 papers this year for consideration and our gross acceptance rate (i.e. total submissions/acceptances) was 19 per cent.

The scope of topics in volume 1 has been impressive and we continue to receive papers from (and about) all corners of the world. This cultural diversity has been a source of considerable added value for our journal and we look forward to receiving manuscripts from even more countries in future volumes.

Finance scholars continue to represent the most popular source of submissions for our journal. We have also seen an increase in marketing, strategy and economics-related submissions to IJOEM too. Thinking ahead, we would like to continue to see greater disciplinary plurality for our readership.

We were also delighted that we had a Special Issue of IJOEM on Microfinance in Emerging Markets from one of the US leading schools of community economic development, Southern New Hampshire University's School of Community Economic Development (SCED). Microfinance is a topic of acute interest to scholars who research emerging markets and we hope that our readership will benefit from the insight of some of the most prominent thinkers in the area.

Thinking about volume 2, IJOEM has made an important strategic decision to reconfigure our editorial structure. We will be moving as soon as possible towards a Regional Editorship organization, with Editors responsible for handling submissions and reviews from their own geographical area. Currently, we are planning to have Regional Editors for the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe. As Editor-in-Chief, I will be responsible for Africa given the relatively low number of submissions from that continent.

I am delighted to announce that Dr Kate Hutchings from Monash University in Australia has graciously agreed to take on the Asia-Pacific Editorship. While we are sad to be losing her as one of our most conscientious reviewers, we are extremely happy that she will bring her expertise, enthusiasm and work ethic to the journal. Welcome on board Kate! We will be announcing the new Regional Editors in due course.

We are also delighted that there will be a Special Issue of IJOEM in volume 2 on “Small, medium sized enterprises in emerging markets” guest edited by Dr Mohan Eunni at Youngstown State University. Mohan has put together an extremely impressive editorial team for this special issue and we are excited about its forthcoming publication!

Volume 2, Issue 1 continues our emphasis on diversity in topic area and discipline. It is almost impossible to compose a meaningful synthesis of the papers, given this diversity. We have a paper on diversification strategies of emerging markets (Anurag/Akbar) – our first paper accepted from an Indian University. Dr Andre de Waal has provided a paper on performance management in Tanzania. Dr Calin Gurau developed a paper on digital b2b interactions in Romania. Hafedh, Akoum, Habib and Ahmed have produced a thought-provoking and highly topical discussion on development of Iraq in a post-Sadaam era. Mair and Schoen composed an excellent paper of social entrepreneurship models in developing countries. Dr Yuliya Ivanova has written an outstanding case study of ethical challenges for managers in Belarus. Quite a fantastic range of issues and countries! As Editor, it is a delight to see this diversity come to publishing fruition and I want to thank all the authors for their contribution to the literature on emerging markets.

I want to especially thank two core groups of supporters of IJOEM – our Editorial Advisory Board (EAB) and our review panel of scholars.

Our EAB members have been excellent at promoting awareness of the journal; providing help with reviewing from time to time; suggesting the names of both potential reviewers and EAB members. I want to thank all our EAB members for their efforts and I would like to mention one member in particular, Dr Krzysztof Obloj, who has substantially contributed to building our review panel as well as recruit for the EAB.

I would also like to thank Kate Snowden, our Publisher, who has been a model colleague to work with and has been exceptionally supportive in the development of the journal. We all look forward to working with Kate in the issues ahead!

Lee Williams, Editorial Assistant, at IJOEM was the organized core of the editorial process – her attention to detail was impeccable. Sadly for us, Lee is moving on to other things in her professional life and we will miss her!

Last but not least, my Associate Editors have provided crucial advice for the IJOEM project and have been a source of ideas, contacts and support for me. Thank you!

Yusaf H. AkbarInternational Business at Southern New Hampshire University and Visiting Associate Professor of Management at Central European University Business School in Budapest, Hungary