Social Economics

The “Social Economics” section seeks to redefine the scope and purpose of economic inquiry in an era shaped by rising inequality, intensifying climate and ecological crises, and profound institutional transformations. Conventional frameworks—centered on fully rational agents and efficiency metrics—are increasingly inadequate for understanding the complexity of real-world dynamics. This section advances a reorientation of economics toward the fundamental goal of human development, situating economic processes within the broader context of social progress.

We invite contributions that re-embed economic analysis within its social and ethical foundations, foregrounding the roles of norms, power, culture, and institutions. In particular, we encourage research that adopts a human development perspective, taking human well-being, equity, climate sustainability, and ecological integrity as core evaluative criteria. We are especially interested in work that moves beyond GDP-centered measures and develops innovative frameworks for assessing inclusive and sustainable development, incorporating ethical, institutional, and human–nature dimensions.

By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and methodological pluralism, this section aims to advance research that not only deepens academic understanding but also informs pathways toward more just, inclusive, and ecologically sustainable socio-economic systems.