Revision (jep-revision)
When to trigger
- A JEP editor's letter arrived asking for changes (not an anonymous referee report)
- The edits center on accessibility, balance, framing, or length — the JEP levers
- The managing editor returned a heavily marked-up draft
- You need to plan the revision and a concise reply to the editorial team
How JEP revision differs
JEP review is editor-driven and hands-on, so revision is a conversation with the editors and managing editor, not a rebuttal to hidden referees. The edits will almost always be about how the piece communicates — is it accessible enough, balanced enough, well-framed, and the right length — rather than new identification or robustness. The right posture is responsive and collaborative: the editors are protecting the broad-audience mission, and on accessibility calls they are usually right.
Triaging the editor's letter
| Editor concern |
What it usually means |
The fix (skill) |
| "Still too technical / for specialists" |
jargon/notation/assumed knowledge remains |
jep-accessibility-and-translation |
| "Reads as advocacy / one-sided" |
competing views or uncertainty underplayed |
jep-balance-and-objectivity |
| "We lose the thread / what's the argument?" |
structure is a survey, no through-line |
jep-narrative-arc |
| "Too long / cut to length" |
exhaustive coverage, not a focused essay |
jep-editor-strategy (cut coverage, keep clarity) |
| "Tighten the prose / abstract" |
voice dull; abstract has machinery |
jep-writing-style |
| "Exhibits are dense" |
research-paper figures/tables |
jep-exhibits-for-general-readers |
Building the revision
- Take accessibility and balance notes as binding. These are JEP's core; argue only if a change would make the piece wrong, and then propose an accessible alternative, not a refusal.
- Cut coverage before clarity. When trimming length, remove exhaustiveness and tangents; protect the through-line, the load-bearing examples, and the few essential exhibits.
- Preserve honesty under pressure to simplify. If an edit risks overstating a finding, flag it and offer wording that stays accurate (cross-check
jep-balance-and-objectivity and jep-evidence-without-equations).
- Keep the symposium frame if applicable — don't expand into a companion piece's territory while revising.
The reply letter (to the editorial team)
- Short, point-by-point, and warm. Map each editorial comment to what you changed and where.
- Lead with agreement. Note the edits you simply made; reserve discussion for the few you handled differently, with a brief reason and an accessible alternative.
- No referee-style combativeness. This is a collaborative edit, not an adversarial rebuttal.
Checklist
Anti-patterns
- Replying to a hands-on editor as if rebutting an anonymous referee
- Resisting accessibility edits ("the experts need this") instead of finding an accessible version
- Cutting clarity (examples, the argument's spine) to hit a length target while keeping exhaustive coverage
- Letting a "make it punchier" edit push the claims past what the evidence supports
- A long, defensive reply letter that re-litigates settled calls
Output format
【Letter type】editor/managing-editor edits (not anonymous referees)
【Top concerns】accessibility / balance / framing / length / prose / exhibits
【Per-comment plan】comment → change → location
【Binding edits done】[accessibility + balance items]
【Length plan】cut coverage; protect through-line + key exhibits
【Honesty check】no edit overstated a finding? [Y/N]
【Reply letter】short, point-by-point, collaborative? [Y/N]
【Next step】return to jep-workflow if a new bottleneck surfaces
1---2name: jep-revision3description: Use when responding to Journal of Economic Perspectives (JEP) editor feedback — accessibility, balance, length, and framing — on an invited or accepted article. Plans the revision and the reply to the editorial team; it does not draft the original article or run the submission preflight.4---56# Revision (jep-revision)78## When to trigger910- A JEP editor's letter arrived asking for changes (not an anonymous referee report)11- The edits center on accessibility, balance, framing, or length — the JEP levers12- The managing editor returned a heavily marked-up draft13- You need to plan the revision and a concise reply to the editorial team1415## How JEP revision differs1617JEP review is **editor-driven and hands-on**, so revision is a **conversation with the editors and managing editor**, not a rebuttal to hidden referees. The edits will almost always be about *how the piece communicates* — is it accessible enough, balanced enough, well-framed, and the right length — rather than new identification or robustness. The right posture is **responsive and collaborative**: the editors are protecting the broad-audience mission, and on accessibility calls they are usually right.1819## Triaging the editor's letter2021| Editor concern | What it usually means | The fix (skill) |22|----------------|-----------------------|-----------------|23| "Still too technical / for specialists" | jargon/notation/assumed knowledge remains | `jep-accessibility-and-translation` |24| "Reads as advocacy / one-sided" | competing views or uncertainty underplayed | `jep-balance-and-objectivity` |25| "We lose the thread / what's the argument?" | structure is a survey, no through-line | `jep-narrative-arc` |26| "Too long / cut to length" | exhaustive coverage, not a focused essay | `jep-editor-strategy` (cut coverage, keep clarity) |27| "Tighten the prose / abstract" | voice dull; abstract has machinery | `jep-writing-style` |28| "Exhibits are dense" | research-paper figures/tables | `jep-exhibits-for-general-readers` |2930## Building the revision3132- **Take accessibility and balance notes as binding.** These are JEP's core; argue only if a change would make the piece *wrong*, and then propose an accessible alternative, not a refusal.33- **Cut coverage before clarity.** When trimming length, remove exhaustiveness and tangents; protect the through-line, the load-bearing examples, and the few essential exhibits.34- **Preserve honesty under pressure to simplify.** If an edit risks overstating a finding, flag it and offer wording that stays accurate (cross-check `jep-balance-and-objectivity` and `jep-evidence-without-equations`).35- **Keep the symposium frame** if applicable — don't expand into a companion piece's territory while revising.3637## The reply letter (to the editorial team)3839- **Short, point-by-point, and warm.** Map each editorial comment to what you changed and where.40- **Lead with agreement.** Note the edits you simply made; reserve discussion for the few you handled differently, with a brief reason and an accessible alternative.41- **No referee-style combativeness.** This is a collaborative edit, not an adversarial rebuttal.4243## Checklist4445- [ ] Each editor comment mapped to a concrete change and location46- [ ] Accessibility and balance edits treated as binding (alternatives, not refusals)47- [ ] Length cuts removed coverage, not the through-line or key exhibits48- [ ] No simplification silently overstated a result49- [ ] Symposium scope respected (if applicable)50- [ ] Reply letter is short, point-by-point, collaborative5152## Anti-patterns5354- Replying to a hands-on editor as if rebutting an anonymous referee55- Resisting accessibility edits ("the experts need this") instead of finding an accessible version56- Cutting clarity (examples, the argument's spine) to hit a length target while keeping exhaustive coverage57- Letting a "make it punchier" edit push the claims past what the evidence supports58- A long, defensive reply letter that re-litigates settled calls5960## Output format6162```63【Letter type】editor/managing-editor edits (not anonymous referees)64【Top concerns】accessibility / balance / framing / length / prose / exhibits65【Per-comment plan】comment → change → location66【Binding edits done】[accessibility + balance items]67【Length plan】cut coverage; protect through-line + key exhibits68【Honesty check】no edit overstated a finding? [Y/N]69【Reply letter】short, point-by-point, collaborative? [Y/N]70【Next step】return to jep-workflow if a new bottleneck surfaces71```