Special Issue on “Digital Transformation, ESG Practices, and Economic Development in Emerging Markets”

Call for Papers – Special Issue on “Digital Transformation, ESG Practices, and Economic Development in Emerging Markets”

Journal: Journal of International Economics and Management
Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Special issue closes: 30 June 2026

This special issue explores how digital transformation driven by artificial intelligence, blockchain, and big data analytics can advance Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices and inclusive economic development in emerging markets. It seeks theoretical and empirical contributions that analyse how digital technologies reshape corporate sustainability, inclusive growth, and regulatory‑institutional environments in developing economies where digital infrastructure and ESG governance are still evolving.

Why this issue matters

• Emerging markets face unique opportunities and constraints as they adopt AI, blockchain, and big data while striving to meet global ESG standards.

• Digital tools can enhance ESG transparency, supply‑chain accountability, and social‑impact measurement, but their deployment must account for infrastructure gaps, digital inequality, and weaker regulatory regimes.

• This SI aims to build policy‑relevant, evidence‑based research on how digital transformation and ESG alignment can jointly support sustainable development goals and inclusive economic growth in the Global South.

Core themes and research areas

Papers may address, but are not limited to:

• Digital transformation and ESG strategies

  • How AI, blockchain, and data analytics shape environmental reporting, social‑impact tracking, and board‑level governance in emerging‑market firms.

  • Comparative studies of digital‑driven vs conventional ESG practices.

• Corporate leadership and ESG adoption

  • Role of top management, boards, and institutional investors in driving ESG adoption under weak regulatory or informal‑economy conditions.

  • How local stakeholder pressures, political risk, and global standards influence ESG decisions.

• ESG‑driven innovation and business models

  • How ESG imperatives stimulate green and inclusive digital‑enabled business models (e.g., circular‑economy platforms, green fintech, sustainable agri‑tech, inclusive mobility).

  • Case studies of emerging‑market startups and SMEs using ESG‑driven innovation to scale impact.

• AI and blockchain for ESG implementation

  • Use of AI for ESG scoring, risk prediction, and impact evaluation, and blockchain for traceability, carbon accounting, and ethical‑sourcing verification.

  • Ethical and governance challenges, including data privacy, bias, and regulatory compliance in emerging markets.

• ESG and the digital divide

  • How ESG principles can guide corporate strategies to reduce digital inequities, expand access to technology, and improve digital inclusion.

  • Role of public–private partnerships and ESG‑linked digital‑infrastructure projects.

• Inclusive economic development and sustainability

  • How digital‑ESG synergies contribute to poverty reduction, gender‑inclusive employment, and local job creation.

  • Policy and business‑level levers to align digital‑development strategies with ESG metrics and SDGs.

Guest editors

• Assoc. Prof. Mai Thi Thanh Thai, HEC Montréal, Canada
  Email: mai.thai@hec.ca

• Prof. Norris F. Krueger, Entrepreneurship Northwest, Boise, USA
  Email: norris.krueger@gmail.com

Editor‑in‑Chief (journal level):

• Assoc. Prof. Tu Thuy Anh, Foreign Trade University, Vietnam
  Email: thuyanh.tu@ftu.edu.vn

Submission details

• Submission portal: ScholarOne Manuscripts for Journal of International Economics and Management:
  https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jiem

• Submission window: 30 June 2025 – 30 June 2026

• Manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere, and will undergo double‑blind peer review.

• Authors should follow the journal’s Author Guidelines:
  https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/jiem

Papers should clearly connect digital transformation with ESG practices and economic development, offering actionable insights for emerging‑market firms, policymakers, international organisations, and development practitioners.

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