Journal submissions, review and editorial decision patterns during initial COVID-19 restrictions.

• We study the effect of initial COVID-19 restrictions on academic performances. • The study is based on administrative data from leading agricultural economics journals. • Manuscript submissions increased sharply and equi-proportionately by gender. • Female reviewers became relatively more likely to decline a review invitation. • We find no evidence of a near-term disruption in peer-reviewed publication. We use the full administrative records from four leading agricultural economics journals to study the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on manuscript submission, editorial desk rejection and reviewer acceptance rates, and time to editorial decision. We also test for gender differences in these impacts. Manuscript submissions increased sharply and equi-proportionately by gender. Desk rejection rates remained stable, leading to increased demand for reviews. Female reviewers became eight percentage points more likely to decline a review invitation during the early stage of the pandemic. First editorial decisions for papers sent out for peer review occurred significantly faster after pandemic lockdowns began. Overall, the initial effects of the pandemic on journal editorial tasks and review patterns appear relatively modest, despite the increased number of submissions handled by editors and reviewers. We find no evidence in agricultural economics of a generalized disruption to near-term, peer-reviewed publication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]