Call for Papers 2026

Global Economic and Business Management Challenges in a Transforming World: An Interdisciplinary Perspective

The Kautz Conference on Business and Economics 2026 invites scholars, researchers, and practitioners to explore the profound transformations reshaping global economic and business management practices. Rapid technological advancement, the diffusion of artificial intelligence, sustainability imperatives, geopolitical realignments, and shifting social expectations are redefining how organizations, markets, and institutions operate in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

The conference adopts an interdisciplinary perspective, encouraging contributions that bridge economics, business, management, technology, and social sciences. By fostering dialogue across disciplines, the Kautz Conference aims to advance theoretical understanding, methodological innovation, and practical insights into how global economic and business challenges can be understood and addressed in a transforming world.

Main Conference Tracks

1. Transforming Organizations, Leaders and Employees

This track focuses on the organizational and human dimensions of transformation in a rapidly changing world of work. It welcomes research addressing leadership, human resource management, skills development, and workforce adaptation in the context of digitalization, business environment and generational change.

Keywords: competencies, lifelong learning, AI and the future of work, leadership, HRM, organizational resilience and workforce transformation, psychological safety

2. Driving Innovation: Digital Transformation and AI in Business

This track explores how digital technologies are transforming business models, decision-making processes, and organizational capabilities. Contributions are expected to advance understanding of data-driven strategies, intelligent systems, and the strategic implications of digital innovation in contemporary business environments.

Keywords: artificial intelligence; decision-making, digital transformation strategies; business models; platform economies



3. Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Transformation

The aim of this track is to examine how emerging technologies contribute to sustainable economic and business transformation. Papers should address the integration of ESG principles, green innovation, responsible technologies, and ethical considerations into organizational strategies and policy frameworks.

Keywords: ESG strategies and sustainability management, renewable energy and green innovation, technology-driven sustainability transitions

4. Marketing, Consumer Behavior and Digital Markets

This track aims to capture contemporary challenges and transformations in marketing, consumer behavior, and market dynamics. It welcomes contributions examining digital marketing strategies, consumer decision-making, branding, platform-based markets, data-driven marketing, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in shaping customer experiences and value creation in global and local contexts.

Keywords: Digital and data-driven marketing strategies, Consumer behavior and decision-making, Global–local market dynamics and customer engagement, Platform-based and ecosystem marketing

5. Corporate Decision-Making, Strategy and Finance

This track aims to deepen understanding of strategic, managerial, and financial decision-making under conditions of uncertainty, complexity, and rapid technological change. It welcomes contributions addressing corporate strategy, financial management, investment and risk decisions, financial markets, and the growing role of financial technologies (fintech), digital finance, and data-driven financial analytics in shaping organizational performance and market dynamics.

Keywords: Strategic decision-making under uncertainty, Innovation, competitiveness, and market dynamics; Business models in turbulent environments; Finance management

6. Tourism, Sports and Experience Economy in the Digital Age

This track aims to explore the economic, managerial, and social dimensions of tourism, sports, and experience-based industries in a transforming global environment. It welcomes contributions addressing tourism development, destination management, consumer experiences, sustainability, and policy issues, while also emphasizing the growing role of digitalization, data-driven solutions, and smart technologies in reshaping tourism markets, services, and stakeholder interactions at local, regional, and international levels.

Keywords: Digital tourism and smart destinations; sports analytics and performance technologies; experience design, events, and service innovation

7. Economic, Social, Institutional and Geopolitical Transformations

This track aims to examine the complex economic, social, institutional, and geopolitical transformations shaping contemporary societies and business environments. It welcomes interdisciplinary research that analyzes inequality, education systems, institutional adaptation, governance structures, and geopolitical dynamics, with particular attention to how global, regional, and local forces interact in times of uncertainty, crisis, and structural change.

Keywords: Socio-economic change and inequality; Education systems and institutional adaptation;  Regional development and resilience; Governance and political economy; Borders, geopolitics, and global–local dynamics

8. Supply Chain, Logistics and Transportation in a Transforming Global Economy

This track aims to examine the strategic, economic, and operational challenges of supply chains, logistics, and transportation systems in a transforming global economy. It welcomes contributions addressing the design, management, and governance of supply chains, logistics networks, and transportation systems under conditions of uncertainty, digital transformation, sustainability pressures, and geopolitical disruption. Particular emphasis is placed on resilience, efficiency, and innovation across global, regional, and local value chains.

Keywords: Supply chain management and global value chains; Logistics systems and operations management, Transportation economics and mobility systems, Digital supply chains and Industry 4.0; Sustainable, green, and circular logistics