D2 Article in a professional book
Journal of Economic Literature codes classification system (JEL) (2022)

Heikkilä, J. T. S. (2022). Journal of Economic Literature codes classification system (JEL). In B. Hjørland, & C. Gnoli (Eds.), ISKO Encyclopedia of Knowledge Organization (IEKO). International Society for Knowledge Organization. https://www.isko.org/cyclo/jel

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Heikkilä, Jussi T. S.

Parent publication: ISKO Encyclopedia of Knowledge Organization (IEKO)

Parent publication editors: Hjørland, Birger; Gnoli, Claudio

Publication year: 2022

Publisher: International Society for Knowledge Organization

Place of Publication: Alberta

Publication country: Canada

Publication language: English

Persistent website address: https://www.isko.org/cyclo/jel

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Additional information: Also published as:
Heikkilä, J. T. S. (2022). Journal of Economic Literature Codes Classification System (JEL). Knowledge Organization, 49(5), 352-370. https://doi.org/10.5771/0943-7444-2022-5-352

Abstract

The Journal of Economic Literature codes classification system (JEL) published by the American Economic Association (AEA) is the de facto standard classification system for research literature in economics. The JEL classification system is used to classify articles, dissertations, books, book reviews, and working papers in EconLit, a database maintained by the AEA. Over time, it has evolved and extended to a system with over 850 subclasses. This paper reviews the history and development of the JEL classification system, describes the current version, and provides a selective overview of its uses and applications in research. The JEL codes classification system has been adopted by several publishers, and their instructions are reviewed. There are interesting avenues for future research as the JEL classification system has been surprisingly little used in existing bibliometric and scientometric research as well as in library classification systems.

Keywords: scientific journals; science publishing; research-based knowledge; economics; classifications; classification systems; use; bibliometrics; scientometrics

Free keywords: taloustiede

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Won't be reported

VIRTA submission year: 2022