About the Journal

The Journal of Capital Markets & Policy Studies (JCMPS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access scholarly and professional journal published quarterly by the Institute of Capital Markets Studies (ICMS) at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria.

JCMPS provides a reputable platform for disseminating high-quality research, conceptual papers, and policy analyses that advance understanding and practice in capital markets, banking, finance, and sustainable economic governance. The journal bridges the gap between academic inquiry and policy application, fostering dialogue among scholars, regulators, and industry practitioners in emerging and frontier markets.

Focus and Scope

JCMPS welcomes original research articles, conceptual papers, reviews, and policy notes in the broad fields of finance, economics, and public policy, including but not limited to:

  •       Capital market development and institutional dynamics
  •       Banking performance, financial intermediation, and monetary policy
  •           ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) integration in financial systems
  •       Corporate governance, disclosure, and investor protection
  •       Financial innovation, fintech, and digital transformation
  •       Market regulation, systemic risk, and prudential policy
  •       Macroeconomic policy and sustainable finance frameworks
  •       Comparative capital market studies in emerging and frontier economies

The journal encourages and welcomes interdisciplinary, theory-driven, and empirically robust contributions with clear implications for policy and practice.

 Editorial Policy

 Submissions and scope: IJCMS welcomes original research, policy analyses, literature reviews, methodological papers, replication studies, book chapters, data notes, and short communications within its stated scope.

 Peer review: All manuscripts undergo double-blind peer review by 2–3 independent experts. The editorial team makes a preliminary screening and final decisions based on quality, relevance, originality, rigour, and significance.

Ethics and transparency: Authors must adhere to ethical guidelines, disclose conflicts of interest, obtain necessary permissions for data and human subjects (where applicable), and provide data availability or access statements as appropriate.

 Authorship and acknowledgments: Clear criteria for authorship; accurate attribution of contributions; disclosure of any third-party assistance.

 Revisions and decisions: Clear timelines for initial decisions and revisions; authors notified of reviewer comments and decision rationale. Appeals are considered by an independent editorial panel.

 

Publication ethics: The journal aligns with COPE guidelines on handling ethical issues, retractions, corrections, and expressions of concern.

Open access and licensing: All articles are freely available to the public, promoting wider dissemination and engagement.

Language and formatting: Submissions should be in clear English (UK); use consistent formatting, SI units, and standard references. Minor styling guidelines are provided in the author guidelines.

Data and code availability: Encourage or require data and code availability where feasible to support reproducibility.

Timelines: Editorial decision: Typically made within 4–6 weeks. Acceptance or rejection will be communicated promptly, and revision timelines will be transparent.

Sponsorship Disclosure: This journal is supported by Nasarawa State University, Institute of Capital Markets Studies (ICMS), and Capital Market Academics of Nigeria (CMAN). Authors are required to disclose any funding support received for their research and publication.

Archival System: This journal is included in the LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) system for long-term archiving.

 

Manuscript Submission

Authors are invited to submit their work to this journal. An editor will evaluate all submissions for alignment with the journal's aims and scope. Submissions that are deemed a good fit will undergo peer review, which will inform the final decision on acceptance or rejection.

Before submitting, authors must secure permission for all materials included in their submission, such as photos, documents, and datasets. All authors listed must explicitly consent to their identification as authors. Research requires ethics committee approval in accordance with the legal requirements of the study's country.

Submissions failing to meet minimum quality standards may be desk-rejected at the editor’s discretion. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure that your study design and research argument are clearly structured and articulated. The title should be concise, and the abstract should be self-sufficient.

This will make reviewers more likely to accept your paper. Once you are confident that your submission meets these standards, follow the checklist below to finalise your submission.

Manuscripts should be prepared in accordance with the JCMPS Author Guidelines and submitted electronically via the provided platform. editor@jcmps.org or submissions@icms.edu.ng