rfs-empirical-designUse when sample construction, estimator choice, factor/portfolio design, or measurement is the bottleneck for a The Review of Financial Studies (RFS) manuscript. Settles design choices that make the identification credible; does NOT pick the identification strategy or run robustness.
rfs-identificationUse when the causal-inference or asset-pricing identification strategy is the bottleneck for a The Review of Financial Studies (RFS) manuscript — quasi-experiments (DID, IV, RDD, event study) and factor-model identification. Stress-tests the design before drafting tables.
rfs-internet-appendixUse when deciding what belongs in the journal-hosted Internet Appendix vs. the main paper for a The Review of Financial Studies (RFS) manuscript, and how to structure it. Organizes supplementary material; does NOT generate the robustness content itself.
rfs-literature-positioningUse when the related-work framing is the bottleneck for a The Review of Financial Studies (RFS) manuscript — defining the precise delta against JF/JFE/RFS and prior literature. Builds positioning, not the empirical design or the topic itself.
rfs-rebuttalUse after a decision letter (R&R or reject-and-resubmit) on a The Review of Financial Studies (RFS) manuscript, to structure the response letter and revision plan. Writes the rebuttal; assumes the manuscript itself is being revised in parallel.
rfs-referee-strategyUse when choosing suggested/opposed referees or running an objection pre-mortem before submitting a The Review of Financial Studies (RFS) manuscript. Anticipates reviewer concerns; does NOT write the rebuttal (that is rfs-rebuttal).
rfs-robustnessUse when results may be fragile or when multiple-testing / out-of-sample discipline is the bottleneck for a The Review of Financial Studies (RFS) manuscript. Builds the robustness battery referees will demand; does NOT design identification or write the rebuttal.
rfs-submissionUse when running the final pre-submission preflight for a The Review of Financial Studies (RFS) manuscript — the SFS Editorial Express portal, cover letter, formatting, Internet Appendix, submission fee, and SFS norms. Checks readiness; does NOT write the paper or the rebuttal.
rfs-tables-figuresUse when main-paper exhibits are the bottleneck for a The Review of Financial Studies (RFS) manuscript — table layout, standard-error reporting, and publication-grade figures. Finalizes exhibits; does NOT decide robustness content or move material to the appendix.
rfs-topic-selectionUse when the research question or contribution is the bottleneck for a The Review of Financial Studies (RFS) manuscript. Pressure-tests novelty-plus-rigor fit and drafts the contribution claim; does NOT design the empirics or position the literature in detail.
rfs-workflowUse when deciding which rfs-* sub-skill to invoke next, or when sequencing manuscript work from topic selection through rebuttal for a The Review of Financial Studies (RFS) manuscript. Routes — does not replace — the specialized skills.
rfs-writing-styleUse as a late-stage polish when prose, contribution framing, or the abstract/introduction is the bottleneck for a The Review of Financial Studies (RFS) manuscript. Sharpens exposition; does NOT change the empirics, identification, or results.