Call for Papers - ABLJ 2024 Special Issue: Doing Business in a Disaster Economy

Dear BLPB Readers:

"In 2022, the United States experienced 26 natural disasters, more than any other country in the
world. One storm alone, Hurricane Ian, cost the economy more than $110 billion dollars. Beyond
flooding, drought, and wildfire, in recent years the world has also seen the previously
unimaginable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple areas of human conflict,
including the war in Ukraine, which has disrupted global food supply and upended life for
millions of people. Each of these disasters brings a unique mix of impact to local businesses,
human lives, and the global economy.

What should businesses, regulators, lawmakers, and attorneys do to prepare for life in an
economy in which disasters are both more likely to strike, due to climate change, and more likely
to have profound multinational impacts, due to globalization? The American Business Law
Journal (ABLJ) seek manuscripts that address this question.

The “Doing Business in a Disaster Economy” special issue will take a broad perspective.
Submissions may cover a wide variety of topics addressing legal planning and regulatory
mechanisms for addressing disasters–before, during, and after the event. Paper topics may
include but are not limited to:
• Insolvency and financial aid, particularly for SMEs post-disaster.
• Meeting health care needs, particularly in underserved or rural areas.
• Addressing the impacts of systemic racism and ethnic bias on disaster preparedness and
the impact of disasters on communities of marginalized populations.
• Economic programs related to unemployment, loan repayment, or essential industry
protection or rebuilding.
• Land use and other environmental programs intended to mitigate predicted impacts of
natural disasters on local and national economies.
• The role of digital assets in a disaster economy.
• Evaluating previous relief programs (such as the American Rescue Plan) and making
recommendations for future programs.
• Valuation of property and insurance issues in high-risk areas.

Submissions incorporating interdisciplinary approaches and/or comparative and international law
are welcome, as are submissions from researchers based outside of North America. It is expected
that four papers will be accepted for the special issue; papers not accepted may be resubmitted to
the ABLJ for publication outside of the special issue.

Articles selected for the special issue will be published in Issue 4, Volume 61 (2024), of the
ABLJ. Submissions must be received by March 1, 2024 for consideration. Submissions should
be made to [email protected]. Authors will be notified of their acceptance by March 15,
2024." 

The complete call for papers is here: Download ABLJ 2024 Special Issue Call for Papers