Authorship in The Agricultural Economics, Social, and Environment Journal (AESE Journal) is based on principles that uphold fairness, transparency, and ethical conduct. Authorship constitutes a framework aimed at assigning acknowledgement and responsibility for the substance of published materials. Acknowledgement and liability are inherently intertwined, and the foundation for establishing authorship hinges on providing a precise chronicle of the unfolding events. The principles guiding authorship are universally applicable, encompassing diverse forms of intellectual creation spanning both conventional and digital formats, encompassing text, data, and visual elements. Moreover, authorship carries an inherent sense of responsibility and accountability for the disseminated works. Authors have contributed substantively to the intellectual foundation, and being granted authorship signifies an acknowledgement of the associated responsibilities and obligations regarding the published content. This framework serves to mitigate substantial uncertainties regarding individual contributions, although it does not explicitly address the requisite level of contribution in terms of both quantity and quality required for authorship. The following policies guide the determination of authorship:

1. Substantial Contributions. Authors have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the research study.
2. Drafting and Revising. Authors contribute to the drafting or revising of the manuscript, ensuring its intellectual content and accuracy.
3. Final Approval. All authors must review and approve the final version of the manuscript before submission, indicating their agreement with its content and publication.
4. Acknowledgement. Individuals who have contributed to the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged in the manuscript's acknowledgements section.
5. Ghostwriting and Guest Authorship. Ghostwriting (substantial contribution without authorship credit) and guest authorship (including those who did not contribute substantially) are considered violations of ethical authorship standards and strongly discouraged.
6. Author Order. The order of authors should reflect their respective contributions to the research. The primary author is often the individual who made the greatest contribution.
7. Corresponding Author. The corresponding author communicates with the editorial office, addresses inquiries, and manages revisions.
8. Authorship Changes. Any changes to the list of authors, including additions or removals, must be approved by all authors and communicated to the journal's editorial office.
9. Honesty and Transparency. Authors must honestly and transparently declare their contributions and affiliations, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the publication process.
10. Contributions to Authorship. The specific contributions of each author should be described in the manuscript, allowing readers to understand the roles played by each individual.

These authorship policies reflect the commitment of AESE to maintaining ethical and accountable practices in scholarly publishing. By adhering to these policies, we uphold the integrity of research contributions, acknowledge the contributions of all individuals involved, and ensure responsible authorship practices.

Criteria for Authorship

Each individual who has played a substantial role in shaping the foundation of the study that forms the basis of the article, including contributions to research inquiries, design, analysis, interpretation, and written exposition, should be recognized as an author. Authorship should be attributed solely to those who have contributed noteworthy to expanding knowledge. While these contributions may be acknowledged within the publication, tasks such as providing technical assistance, translating content, identifying subjects for the study, supplying materials, offering financial support, or overseeing administrative aspects of the work's location do not qualify for authorship.

A single author, often designated as the corresponding author responsible for submission and evaluation, should assume accountability for the overall integrity of the work. However, this responsibility can also be shared among multiple authors. Every writer must endorse the final version of the manuscript. Ideally, each author should comprehensively understand all aspects of the work. Nevertheless, contemporary research often transpires within collaborative teams with diverse skill sets, and not all authors may be well-versed in every facet of the study. Hence, specific authors may have contributed substantially to distinct segments of the comprehensive work.

AESE follows specific criteria for determining authorship, ensuring scholarly publications' fairness, transparency, and accountability. The following guidelines outline the criteria for authorship:

1. Substantial Contribution. Authors are individuals who have made substantial and meaningful contributions to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the research study.
2. Intellectual Engagement. Authorship extends to individuals who have actively drafted or revised the manuscript, adding intellectual value to its content.
3. Approval of Final Version. All authors must review and approve the final version of the manuscript before submission, endorsing its content and readiness for publication.
4. Acknowledgement of Contributions. Individuals who have contributed to the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be duly acknowledged in the acknowledgements section.
5. Transparency and Honesty. Authorship is contingent upon honest and transparent acknowledgement of contributions, affiliations, and roles in the research endeavour.
6. Accountability and Responsibility. Authors bear accountability and responsibility for the content of the published work, ensuring its accuracy, validity, and ethical integrity.
7. Corresponding Author Responsibility. The corresponding author communicates with the editorial office, manages revisions, and addresses inquiries.
8. Validity of Authorship Changes. Any changes to the list of authors, such as additions or removals, must be agreed upon by all authors and communicated to the journal's editorial office.
9. Collaborative Collaboration. Collaborative efforts should be duly recognized through shared authorship, reflecting the joint contributions made by multiple individuals.
10. Adherence to Ethical Standards. Authors must adhere to the ethical standards The AESE set forth, encompassing plagiarism prevention and conflict of interest disclosure.

These criteria for authorship underscore AESE's commitment to maintaining ethical, accountable, and transparent practices in scholarly publishing. By adhering to these guidelines, we ensure that authorship is appropriately attributed to those who have significantly contributed to the research, fostering integrity and trust in the publication process.

Number, Names Order, and Authors Disputes

The AESE adheres to guidelines regarding the number of authors, the sequence of author names, and the resolution of authorship-related disputes to ensure equitable and transparent publication practices.

1. Maximum Number of Authors. The editorial board of AESE has set a maximum limit of five authors for each submitted manuscript. This provision ensures that authorship focuses on meaningful contributions and fosters effective collaboration while avoiding unnecessary author proliferation.
2. Author Contributions Section. In instances where not all authors have equal involvement in various stages of the research process, such as experiment execution, result documentation, data interpretation, and manuscript approval, a dedicated "Author Contributions" section should be included. This section elucidates the author's distinct roles, promoting transparency and acknowledging individual contributions.
3. Criteria for Multiple Authors. Manuscripts authored by multiple individuals must meet the stipulated criteria for authorship, as previously detailed. Each author should make substantive intellectual contributions and adhere to ethical standards.
4. Scrutiny by Editor-in-Chief. The editor-in-chief reserves the right to request additional clarification regarding authors' contributions and explanations, especially when questions of potential partiality arise. In such cases, names may be omitted from the final accepted manuscript to ensure unbiased and transparent publication.
5. Determining Authorship Order. Authors are responsible for determining the sequence in which their names appear. This order should reflect their contributions and agreements, as they best understand their nuanced involvement.
6. Resolution of Authorship Disputes. Authorship disputes should be resolved locally before initiating the journal's peer review process to maintain the publication's integrity. However, in unique circumstances, the Chief Editor may provide mediation to facilitate resolution.
7. Authorship Order Changes. A written request from all original authors must substantiate any modifications to the authorship order or removal of authors. This documentation should accompany the manuscript throughout the peer review, acceptance, and publication stages.

By adhering to these guidelines, The AESE ensures that the process of determining authorship, the arrangement of author names, and the resolution of disputes maintain fairness, accountability, and transparency in scholarly publications.

Conflict of Interest

The AESE places significant emphasis on transparency and avoiding conflicts of interest to ensure the credibility and integrity of published research. Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence or be perceived to influence the results, interpretation, or presentation of their work.

Definition of Conflict of Interest
A conflict of interest arises when an author's financial, personal, or professional affiliations can impact their impartiality, objectivity, or judgment in the research or publication process.

Disclosure Requirements
Authors are obligated to provide clear and comprehensive disclosure of any conflicts of interest, including but not limited to:

1. Financial Relationships. Any financial affiliations, sponsorships, grants, or funding sources that may have influenced the research, interpretation, or reporting of findings.
2. Personal Relationships. Any personal connections, collaborations, or relationships that could give rise to a potential conflict of interest.
3. Professional Affiliations. Any affiliations with organizations, institutions, or entities that could have a stake in the research outcome.

Declaration Statement
At the time of manuscript submission, authors must explicitly state whether any conflicts of interest are associated with their work. If no conflicts exist, authors should provide a statement confirming the absence of conflicts.

Editorial Review
The editorial board will review the disclosed conflicts of interest to assess their potential impact on the integrity of the research. In cases where conflicts of interest are identified, appropriate actions will be taken, including disclosure within the published article or further investigation.

Transparency and Trust
Transparent disclosure of conflicts of interest is crucial for maintaining trust among readers, reviewers, and the broader academic community. It ensures that research findings are evaluated based on their merit rather than influenced by external factors.

By adhering to the Conflict of Interest guidelines, authors contribute to preserving the journal's reputation for rigorous and unbiased research dissemination. The AESE remains committed to upholding high ethical standards and promoting an environment of integrity and accountability in scholarly publishing.