jae-tables-figures

Tables & Figures for JAE (jae-tables-figures)

When to trigger

• Regression output is pasted in raw and not yet reader-ready
• Tables do not state the sample, the SE clustering, or variable definitions
• A reviewer cannot tell which coefficients are the test of the hypothesis
• You need a variable-definition appendix or a sample-waterfall table

The standard JAE exhibit set

Archival JAE papers carry a recognizable table sequence; build it deliberately:

1. Variable definitions (often an appendix): every variable, its construction, and the data source (Compustat/CRSP/I/B/E/S/Execucomp/DealScan/Audit Analytics). Reviewers check this first.
2. Sample construction: the waterfall from population to final N with counts at each exclusion.
3. Descriptive statistics: N, mean, median, SD, and key percentiles; note winsorization (e.g., 1%/99%).
4. Correlation matrix: Pearson (and often Spearman) correlations among main variables.
5. Main regressions: the hypothesis tests, with the coefficient of interest visually identifiable.
6. Cross-sectional / mechanism tables: partitions showing the effect concentrates where the friction is severe.
7. Robustness tables: alternative proxies, specifications, placebo/falsification, identification diagnostics.

Reporting conventions reviewers expect

• Report coefficients with t- or z-statistics (or standard errors) and state the SE clustering (firm, or two-way firm-and-year) in the table note.
• Indicate the fixed effects included (firm, year, industry) in each column.
• Use consistent significance markers and define them in the note; report economic magnitude, not only stars.
• Every table note must make the exhibit self-contained: sample, period, units, FE, clustering, and what the key coefficient tests.

Figures

• Event studies: plot cumulative abnormal returns around the information event with confidence bands.
• DiD dynamics: plot event-time coefficients to show parallel pre-trends and the post-treatment effect.
• Comparative statics (analytical papers): plot the model's predicted relations. Keep figures clean, labeled, and grayscale-legible; Elsevier renders single-column native format.

Elsevier house style

JAE follows Elsevier author-date (Harvard) referencing and numbered sections (1, 1.1, 1.1.1). Number tables/figures in citation order, reference each in the text, and keep the in-text discussion interpreting—not merely repeating—the numbers. Remember the manuscript also requires Highlights (2-5 bullets, ≤125 characters each) summarizing the findings.

Checklist

• Variable-definition appendix with data sources
• Sample-construction waterfall table
• Descriptives + correlation matrix; winsorization noted
• Main tables: key coefficient identifiable; t-stats/SEs shown
• FE and SE clustering stated in every table note
• Mechanism and robustness tables present
• Event-study/DiD figures with pre-trends and bands
• Every exhibit self-contained; Highlights drafted

Anti-patterns

• Raw software dumps with unlabeled columns.
• No clustering/FE disclosure in table notes.
• Stars without magnitudes.
• Undefined variables or missing data-source attribution.
• DiD with no event-time figure to support parallel trends.

Exhibit pass for Journal of Accounting and Economics

Use this as a second-pass capability check. First lock the economic mechanism, accounting setting, identification or model, and market/contracting consequence; then test whether the manuscript addresses accounting-economics reviewers who expect economics discipline, identification, and market or contracting implications.

• Primary move: For every table or figure, state the object, sample/case base, uncertainty display, and one sentence the exhibit proves for this venue.
• Decision ledger: return claim / evidence / blocker / next edit rows so the next pass can patch the manuscript directly.
• Neighbor test: compare against JAR for accounting research breadth, TAR for accounting flagship breadth, Review of Accounting Studies for archival/accounting focus; if the neighboring outlet has the stronger audience claim, recommend re-routing before polishing.
• Verification floor: before submission-ready advice, re-open resources/official-source-map.md for volatile rules and name the one unresolved fact that could change the recommendation.

Output format

【Exhibit list】vars / sample / descriptives / corr / main / mechanism / robustness / figures
【Each main table note】sample, period, FE, SE clustering, sig. definitions
【Figures】event-study CARs / DiD dynamics / comparative statics
【Highlights drafted?】2-5 bullets ≤125 chars
【Next step】jae-writing-style