Author Instructions
If you intend to write, or are in the process of writing, a paper that fits within the format and scope of the RCF, we will be pleased to hear from you. You are welcome but not obliged, in the first instance, to send an extended abstract for initial review to the Editor-in-Chief or publisher to ascertain fit with the journal. The full draft paper will be subject to a reviewing process to ensure quality standards and balance before being finally accepted.
When you are ready to submit the final manuscript, please do so at Manuscript Manager.
Data Policy
RCF requires authors to make their code available on request, including both before and after a paper is accepted for publication. Empirical studies can use primary or secondary data. Many sources of data in corporate finance are not publicly available, or at least not publicly available for free. Hence, RCF only requires data to be submitted with an empirical paper if those data are publicly available for free; otherwise, data do not need to be submitted (just the source code would be submitted in that case). However, methods need to be described in full with sufficient detail to enable other scholars to replicate the work.
General Instructions for Final Submission
Abstract
Provide an abstract to the article with the structure below. It should describe what the paper reviews and for whom it is of interest. The abstract will appear both online and in the PDF of the article.
Format of abstract
Please structure your article’s abstract in the four fields below, these are essential elements to the abstract (100 word limit to each field):
- Purpose
- Design/methodology/approach
- Findings
- Originality
If you wish to add other elements to your abstract, please format them within the headings below (100 word limit to each field):
- Research limitations/implications
- Practical implications
- Social implications
References
A list of references must be provided at the end of the paper. The reference style for the ASTP is Harvard. Please also ensure that every reference is cited in your text. It is very important that you supply as complete a reference as possible and that it is structured in the manner requested. Please see an example of the reference and citation style below:
Emerald’s Harvard referencing style
References to other publications in your text should be written as follows:
Single author: (Adams, 2006)
Two authors: (Adams and Brown, 2006)
Three or more authors: (Adams et al., 2006) Please note, ‘et al' should always be written in italics.
A few other style points. These apply to both the main body of text and your final list of references.
When referring to pages in a publication, use ‘p.(page number)’ for a single page or ‘pp.(page numbers)’ to indicate a page range.
Page numbers should always be written out in full, e.g. 175-179, not 175-9.
Where a colon or dash appears in the title of an article or book chapter, the letter that follows that colon or dash should always be lower case.
When citing a work with multiple editors, use the abbreviation ‘Ed.s’.
At the end of your paper, please supply a reference list in alphabetical order using the style guidelines below. Where a DOI is available, this should be included at the end of the reference.
Figures and Tables
Submitted papers should include figures and tables at the end of the paper. Figures and tables need to be “stand alone” with a descriptive header that enables readers to understand completely what is going on in the table or figure without having to refer back to the text.
After a manuscript is accepted for publication, graphics for the final version must be submitted as separate files. When supplying color figures or halftones (photos), ensure that there is sufficient contrast to enable clear black and white printing. Use either Times New Roman or Arial typefaces on all figures. Do not put boxes around figures. Halftones should be supplied in 300 dpi resolution.
