Advancing Risk Scholarship and Dialogue: The Role of Editorial Leadership

By Annette Hofmann

Expanding Horizons, August 2025

The evolving landscape of risk management and insurance (RMI) is increasingly shaped by systemic uncertainties, data-driven innovation and the need for cross-sectoral dialogue. This article discusses the editorial philosophy of Risk Management and Insurance Review (RMIR), an ARIA journal, and the broader academic priorities necessary to advance impactful research in the field.

For scholarly work to have high impact with readers, it must offer the capacity to contribute meaningfully to both theoretical development and applied practice. This dual focus on conceptual novelty and practical relevance forms the foundation of RMIR’s editorial criteria. Submissions that are methodologically sound yet fail to extend the academic conversation or offer actionable insights are less likely to meet the journal’s standards. Thoughtful revision is also essential, and we urge authors to engage deeply with reviewer feedback. Even modest adjustments, such as clarifying points through footnotes, demonstrate a willingness to engage in the iterative process of scholarly dialogue.

Striking a balance between academic rigor and practical relevance remains a core objective of RMIR, and we have a threefold strategy to achieve this objective: the maintenance of a stringent peer review process to safeguard methodological integrity; the encouragement of submissions that bridge theory and practice, whether through case studies, policy analyses or implications sections; and the development of thematic special issues addressing pressing concerns within the risk and insurance ecosystem. This editorial vision reinforces RMIR’s role as a conduit between research and real-world application.

Emerging trajectories in catastrophe risk research is a domain in which we have taken significant interest. There has been a paradigm shift from viewing catastrophes as isolated, exogenous shocks to recognizing them as complex, interrelated stressors shaped by anthropogenic and environmental feedback loops. Increasingly, scholars are examining compound risks and their implications for financial contagion, as well as the systemic redistribution of risk through instruments such as catastrophe bonds and parametric insurance. This evolution in the literature reflects a growing need to integrate behavioral, technological and financial perspectives in modeling and managing extreme events.

Several underexplored yet vital areas are ripe for future research directions. Among these are the ethical dimensions of algorithmic decision-making in high-stakes insurance markets, particularly as machine learning models shape access and affordability at highly granular levels. Similarly, behavioral interventions promise to enhance public understanding and take-up of insurance for ambiguous or emerging risks. Here, evidence-based nudges—rooted in cognitive psychology and behavioral economics—can serve as powerful tools for improving decision-making under uncertainty.

Interdisciplinary research has become increasingly important because the complexity of modern risk systems necessitates methodological pluralism and cross-disciplinary engagement. For instance, meaningful analysis of health care markets requires not only the quantitative tools of actuarial science and economics but also the policy insights of political science, the behavioral understanding of psychology and the contextual knowledge of public health. In this regard, RMIR seeks to serve as a scholarly space that welcomes integrative research—whether through novel conceptual frameworks, mixed-methods approaches or unconventional thematic intersections such as our recent work on risk analytics in baseball.

Global diversity, both in authorship and thematic focus, also features prominently in our editorial agenda. We have made ongoing efforts to encourage submissions from underrepresented regions and early-career scholars, as well as to ensure that published content reflects the varied institutional, cultural and regulatory contexts in which risk operates. This commitment is reflected in the composition of RMIR’s editorial board, which brings together experts from across continents and scholarly traditions. In this way, the journal aims both to broaden the geographic reach of its contributors and to enrich the epistemic diversity of the RMI discipline.

There are, of course, structural challenges in the peer review process, particularly the burdens placed on reviewers and the disincentives to participate in scholarly gatekeeping. We advocate for more tangible forms of reviewer recognition, such as monetary compensation or subscription-based rewards, as such incentives could help sustain the quality and efficiency of the peer review system. More broadly, we need a cultural shift toward a peer review ethos that is timely, constructive and intellectually generous—particularly for early-career researchers navigating the demands of tenure and publication.

Supporting emerging scholars is a central concern for our publication. In addition to our work to streamline the review process, we provide clear expectations, transparent communication and developmental feedback to authors. RMIR seeks to offer not only a venue for publication but also a platform for mentorship and intellectual growth. Young researchers should view revision as an opportunity rather than an obstacle; many of the most impactful papers in the field emerge through the process of critical dialogue and refinement.

Finally, data analytics and artificial intelligence has had a transformative influence on the future of risk scholarship. We welcome research that critically engages with these tools—not merely for predictive accuracy, but for their implications on fairness, inclusion and systemic resilience. However, we must guard against the proliferation of AI-generated manuscripts that lack intellectual coherence—human creativity, judgment and disciplinary grounding are vital factors in academic writing.

Our editorial vision represents a commitment to advancing rigorous, relevant and responsive scholarship in risk management and insurance. As the field confronts new challenges and opportunities—from algorithmic underwriting to global catastrophe modeling—such platforms will be indispensable in shaping the next generation of research and practice.

This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Neither the Society of Actuaries nor the respective authors’ employers make any endorsement, representation or guarantee with regard to any content, and disclaim any liability in connection with the use or misuse of any information provided herein. This article should not be construed as professional or financial advice. Statements of fact and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily those of the Society of Actuaries or the respective authors’ employers.

Annette Hofmann, Ph.D., is the editor-in-chief of Risk Management and Insurance Review. Annette can be reached at hofmanae@ucmail.uc.edu.