Plagiarism Screening and Similarity Check

All submitted manuscripts are screened using professional plagiarism detection software, such as iThenticate and/or other equivalent similarity-checking tools widely used by leading international publishers. Each manuscript undergoes an initial similarity check prior to peer review and, where necessary, a final check before publication. 
Similarity reports are assessed qualitatively as well as quantitatively by the editorial team. Properly cited references, quotations, and bibliographic sections are excluded from evaluation. Editorial decisions are not based solely on similarity percentages but on the nature, location, and context of overlapping content.
Manuscripts exhibiting excessive or unethical overlap, including plagiarism or self-plagiarism, may be rejected, returned for revision, or subject to further investigation in accordance with COPE and Elsevier ethical guidelines.  

The Bank and Policy Journal is firmly committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and ethical publishing. Plagiarism in any form is considered a serious violation of publication ethics and is strictly prohibited. Plagiarism refers to the use of another person’s ideas, words, data, figures, or intellectual output without appropriate acknowledgment or citation. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Direct plagiarism: Copying text verbatim without quotation marks and proper citation
• Self-plagiarism: Republishing one’s own previously published work, in whole or in part, without disclosure or citation
• Mosaic or patchwork plagiarism: Combining phrases or ideas from multiple sources without proper attribution
• Paraphrasing plagiarism: Rewriting content with minor linguistic changes while retaining the original structure or meaning without citation
• Data plagiarism: Presenting data, tables, figures, or results generated by others as one’s own
• Unauthorized use of AI-generated content: Submitting AI-generated text without proper human authorship, verification, and disclosure, where applicable

Similarity Screening
All manuscripts submitted to the Bank and Policy Journal are subject to plagiarism detection screening using professional similarity-checking software (e.g., iThenticate or equivalent tools).

• Similarity reports are evaluated qualitatively, not solely by percentage
• Properly cited references, quotations, and bibliographies are excluded from evaluation
• Editorial judgment is applied to distinguish acceptable overlap from unethical copying

Acceptable Similarity Thresholds

• While no fixed similarity percentage automatically determines acceptance or rejection, the journal generally applies the following guidelines:
  Up to 15% similarity: Typically acceptable, subject to editorial review
• 15–25% similarity: Manuscript may be returned for revision or clarification
• Above 25% similarity: Manuscript is likely to be rejected due to excessive overlap
• High similarity in the abstract, results, discussion, or conclusion sections is considered particularly serious, regardless of the overall percentage.

Author Responsibilities. Authors submitting to the Bank and Policy Journal must:

• Ensure that their manuscript is entirely original
• Properly cite and reference all sources in accordance with APA style
• Clearly identify any reused content, including tables, figures, or methods
• Disclose any overlap with previously published or submitted work
• Confirm that the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere
• Authors bear full responsibility for the integrity and originality of their work.

Handling Allegations of Plagiarism
If plagiarism is suspected or detected at any stage (before or after publication), the journal follows COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines:

Before publication:

• The manuscript may be rejected outright or returned for major revision
• Authors may be asked to provide explanations or corrections

After publication:

• The article may be corrected, retracted, or subject to an expression of concern
• Authors’ institutions may be notified in cases of serious misconduct

Editorial Independence and Fairness
All plagiarism investigations are conducted objectively, confidentially, and impartially. Editorial decisions are based solely on ethical standards and scholarly integrity, without discrimination based on nationality, institutional affiliation, or academic status.

Appeals
Authors have the right to appeal plagiarism-related decisions by submitting a written explanation supported by evidence. Appeals are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and, where necessary, independent experts.

Policy Updates
The Bank and Policy Journal reserves the right to update this Plagiarism Policy in accordance with evolving international publishing standards and ethical guidelines.

Useful Link
Elsevier Publishing Ethics
https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/publishing-ethics

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy

The Bank and Policy Journal recognizes the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in academic research and writing. The journal allows the responsible and transparent use of AI-assisted technologies strictly as supportive tools, provided that human authorship, intellectual responsibility, and academic integrity are fully preserved.

Permitted Use of AI
Authors may use AI-based tools (e.g., language editing, grammar correction, reference formatting, or code assistance) only to support clarity and presentation, not to generate original scientific content. The use of AI must not replace critical thinking, data interpretation, methodological design, or scholarly argumentation.

Prohibited Use of AI
The following practices are strictly prohibited:
Submitting manuscripts generated wholly or substantially by AI
Using AI to fabricate data, results, references, citations, or peer-review content
Presenting AI-generated text, analyses, or conclusions as original human work
Using AI tools to conceal plagiarism or manipulate similarity reports

Disclosure Requirement
Authors are required to clearly disclose any use of AI tools in the preparation of their manuscript in an appropriate section (e.g., “Author Contributions” or “Acknowledgements”), specifying the nature and purpose of such use.

Editorial Assessment and Enforcement
The editorial team may apply AI-detection methods, content analysis, and expert judgment to assess compliance with this policy. If unethical or undisclosed AI use is identified:
The manuscript may be rejected or returned for revision prior to publication

Published articles may be corrected or retracted
Serious cases may be handled in accordance with COPE and Elsevier ethical guidelines

Author Responsibility
Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, ethical compliance, and scientific validity of their work, regardless of any AI tools used during manuscript preparation.