Ethics & Malpractice Statement

Public Administration and Civil Service (PACS)

Public Administration and Civil Service (PACS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct and academic integrity in scholarly publishing. The journal follows the principles and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and adheres to internationally recognized research ethics standards.

Publication Ethics

Authors

Authors must submit original work and ensure that all sources are properly cited. Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, and duplicate publication are unacceptable. Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a significant scholarly contribution and approved the final version of the manuscript. Authors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest and to ensure the accuracy, transparency, and ethical conduct of their research, including compliance with applicable ethical standards and informed consent where relevant.

Reviewers

Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential, conduct reviews objectively and constructively, and disclose any conflicts of interest. Reviews should be completed within the agreed timeframe.

Editors

Editors make publication decisions based solely on the scholarly merit, originality, and relevance of manuscripts to the journal’s scope. Editors must avoid conflicts of interest, ensure a fair and confidential peer-review process, and take appropriate action in cases of suspected misconduct, including plagiarism or unethical research practices.

Malpractice Statement

The journal does not tolerate unethical publishing practices, including plagiarism, data manipulation, falsification, duplicate publication, or unethical authorship. All submissions are subject to peer review and plagiarism screening.

Allegations of misconduct are investigated in accordance with COPE guidelines. When necessary, corrective actions may include manuscript rejection, publication of corrections, expressions of concern, or retraction of published articles. Retraction notices are issued transparently and remain publicly accessible.

Conflicts of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest that could influence the editorial or peer-review process. Transparency is essential to maintaining trust in scholarly communication.

Retraction Policy

Articles may be retracted if significant ethical violations, errors, or integrity issues are identified after publication. Retractions are conducted following a formal review process and are accompanied by a clear retraction notice explaining the reasons for the action.