Journal of Financial Economics (JFE)
The Journal of Financial Economics (JFE), was established in 1974 by leading economists Michael C. Jensen, Eugene F. Fama, and Robert C. Merton to provide a dedicated forum for high-quality research in corporate finance, asset pricing, financial markets, and related areas of economics. From its earliest years, the journal gained prominence not only for the quality of its publications but also for its pioneering editorial practices, such as publishing transparency statistics on editorial performance and compensating referees for prompt reviews—measures that enhanced both efficiency and academic rigor. Over nearly five decades, JFE has been guided by a succession of notable editors, including long-serving Managing Editor G. William Schwert (1995–2021), followed by David Hirshleifer, and currently Toni Whited. Published monthly by Elsevier, the journal has consistently maintained its status as one of the most influential and widely cited publications in financial economics, shaping the discipline through its rigorous peer review process, timely dissemination of research, and its commitment to methodological innovation and analytical depth.