Research Symposium on Insurance Markets and Regulation

Call for Papers
Research Symposium on Insurance Markets and Regulation
The Searle Center at Northwestern University School of Law
April 14-15, 2008

The Searle Center is issuing a call for original research papers to be presented at a Research Symposium on Insurance Markets and Regulation at Northwestern University School of Law. The Symposium will run from 11:30 AM on Monday, April 14 to Tuesday, April 15 at 1:30 PM.

Topics:

The goal of this Research Symposium is to encourage rigorous, high-quality, policy-relevant research on insurance markets and regulation.  The topics covered and the exact formation of the symposium will be determined in part by the submissions.  Potential topics include (but are not limited to) Optional Federal Chartering of Insurance Companies; Antitrust and Insurance Regulation; Jurisdictional Competition; Exit Barriers; Tort Reform; Natural Disasters and State Solvency Regulation; Preemption; Federal Insurance Programs; Health Insurance; and Medical Malpractice Insurance.

Symposium Details:

The Symposium will feature a Keynote Luncheon Address by Representative Melissa Bean (D-Illinois, 8th District) on Monday, April 14.  Representative Bean has introduced legislation for optional federal chartering of insurance companies.  There will be a reception, dinner and program on Monday evening.  The Symposium will conclude on Tuesday with a luncheon roundtable discussion of emerging public policy issues affecting insurance markets.

Authors will receive an honorarium of $6,000 (plus reasonable travel expenses).  Honoraria will be paid in two installments – 50 percent at the symposium, and 50 percent upon revision in response to comments at the symposium.

The Symposium will include Discussants of the various papers.  The typical Discussant will be asked to comment on two papers as part of a panel discussion.  Discussants will be paid an honorarium of $1,000 (plus reasonable transportation expenses).

Papers prepared for the Research Sympsoium will be permanently hosted on The Searle Center website:  http://www.law.northwestern.edu/searlecenter.  The Searle Center intends to market the papers as a package for a law review symposium; if not picked up by a law review, the authors would be free to publish their work in other venues (with appropriate acknowledgment of The Searle Center).

Research Proposals:  Submission, Review Procedure and Timeline:

Research Proposals should include an abstract (300 words maximum), c.v., and whatever supporting documents the author believes will be helpful in the review process.  Research Proposals should be submitted to searlecenter|at|law.northwestern.edu by October 15, 2007.  Research Proposals will be reviewed by a three-member committee.  Authors will be notified of the committee’s decisions by November 1.  Papers must be received by March 24, 2008.  Revised papers must be received by June 1, 2008.  Potential Discussants should send a message indicating their interest in insurance markets and regulation to:  searlecenter|at|law.northwestern.edu by October 15, 2007.  Please attach a copy of your c.v.  All authors and discussants are expected to attend the entire Symposium.  The Searle Center at Northwestern Law was established in 2006 to research how government regulation and interpretation of laws and regulations by the courts affect business and economic growth.