Call for Papers – Weltethos in Economic Practice

The Journal of Contextual Economics (JCE) – Schmollers Jahrbuch, edited by Peter J. Boettke, Nils Goldschmidt, Stefan Kolev, Stephen T. Ziliak, and Joachim Zweynert, invites submissions for a special issue on “Weltethos and the Moral Foundations of Economic Life”, guest edited by Dr. Christopher Gohl and Dr. Theo Bolin Simon (Global Ethic Institute, Tübingen).

In line with the journal’s tradition of understanding economic life as deeply embedded in cultural, social, political, and ecological contexts, this special issue explores how global ethics—and in particular the Weltethos framework initiated by Hans Küng—can inform contemporary economic research.

At a time marked by climate crisis, growing inequality, geopolitical tensions, and technological disruption, purely technical or market-based approaches are increasingly insufficient. This special issue seeks contributions that engage with the moral foundations of economic life and examine how shared ethical orientations can support more sustainable, just, and responsible economic practices.

We welcome interdisciplinary contributions that approach Weltethos not only as a normative idea, but as a practical and analytical lens for contextual economics—addressing questions of social cohesion, ecological responsibility, and the future of economic systems.