“Is Progress Possible Without People? Navigating Quality of Life Between Homo Sapiens and Homo Digitalis”

Call for Papers – Special Issue: “Is Progress Possible Without People? Navigating Quality of Life Between Homo Sapiens and Homo Digitalis”

Journal: Socio-Economic Planning Sciences
Publisher: Elsevier
Submission deadline: 30 June 2026

Overview

This special issue—published by Elsevier—critically examines the tensions between rapid digital transformation (including Artificial Intelligence) and human well-being. It seeks to bridge the gap between technological efficiency and socio-economic progress, exploring how digitalization influences individual and societal quality of life, governance, and democratic participation.

Key Research Themes

• Digital Well-being: The impact of digital environments on mental health, subjective well-being, and social cohesion.

• Socio-Economic Impacts: Analyzing digitalization’s influence on the labor market (automation, platform economy), education, and healthcare systems.

• Multidimensional Indicators: Developing robust metrics and statistical models to measure the societal impacts of new technologies and identify the digital divide.

• Governance & Ethics: Frameworks for addressing algorithmic bias, fostering trust in AI, and navigating the complexities of public perception and policy tools.

• Foresight & Policy: Scenario analyses regarding the long-term role of AI in shaping democratic participation and human-centric development.

Submission Details

• Submission window: 01 February 2026 – 30 June 2026.

• Submission portal: https://www.editorialmanager.com/seps/default.aspx

• Special Instructions: During the submission process, you must select the article type “VSI: Is Progress Possible Without People” to ensure the manuscript is correctly routed to the special issue.

• Methodological Expectations: Theoretical and empirical submissions are welcome, including case studies and comparative analyses. High methodological transparency and clear policy implications are prioritized.

Guest Editors

• Luca Secondi, University of Tuscia (Internal Managing Guest Editor)

• Filomena Maggino, University of Rome La Sapienza

• Enrico Ivaldi, IULM University

Why This Issue Matters

As Artificial Intelligence and digital systems integrate deeper into the socio-economic fabric, understanding their alignment with human needs becomes critical. This special issue—published by Elsevier—aims to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue among economists, sociologists, and policymakers, providing evidence-based insights into how technology can serve human-centric progress rather than undermining it.

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