Editorial introduction: Charting new theoretical horizons here and elsewhere

Abstract

Welcome to the first issue of the Policy Studies Journal (PSJ) for 2024, Volume 52, Issue 1. This issue is a testament to the vibrant and dynamic nature of policy studies, featuring eight groundbreaking research articles that delve into a wide array of policy theories and substantive topics. These articles not only enhance our understanding of policy processes within the United States but also extend our knowledge to various global contexts, reflecting the Journal's commitment to fostering a comprehensive and inclusive platform for policy theory discourse.Before we explore the rich tapestry of research presented in this issue, we are excited to share several noteworthy developments regarding PSJ operations.First, we extend our sincere gratitude to Ms. Morgan Farrar (University of Arkansas) for her invaluable contributions as an editorial assistant in recent months. As she moves on to her new endeavors, we wish her all the best. In her stead, we warmly welcome Ms. Meerim Seiitova (University of Arkansas) as the latest addition to our editorial assistant team.Second, our journal metrics (https:// onlin elibr ary. wiley. com/ journ al/ 15410 072/ journ al-metrics) have been updated to reflect our latest achievements. Notably, our journal impact has seen significant improvement, with the 2022 Scopus CiteScore of 11.1 and the 2022 Clarivate Journal Citation Indicator of 2.17. Our 2-year Impact Factor stands impressively at 3.8. Additionally, our usage metric highlights a substantial increase in full-text views, totaling 266,399 for the year 2022. Our speed metrics are equally impressive, showcasing a swift 7-day turnaround from submission to the first decision and a 254-day average from submission to acceptance, along with an 8% acceptance rate.Third, PSJ has experienced a remarkable influx of new submissions, nearing 500 last year, a significant leap from the previous years' range of 350-370. This surge underscores the growing interest and trust in PSJ as a premier publication outlet for policy theory research. We express our deepest appreciation to our contributors whose relentless dedication and support continue to propel PSJ forward.Fourth, PSJ has expanded its publication repertoire to include not only traditional research articles but also short articles, including research notes and perspectives, and Policy Theory & Practice (PT&P) articles. This expansion accommodates a broader spectrum of scholarly work and further supports publication of high-quality articles that might not fit the typical research article format. We encourage authors to focus on the substance and rigor of their research, assuring them that the classification of their work into the appropriate article type will be handled with care by our editorial team.Fifth, our special issue initiatives, particularly the Policy Design special issue, have garnered considerable success and participation. We extend our thanks to Drs. Cali Curley (University of Miami) and Tomás Olivier (Syracuse University), our special issue editors, for their dedicated edit...