Arefi's Contractual Equilibrium Doctrine (ACED) An Interdisciplinary Model for Contract Adjustment and Dispute Resolution

This article introduces Arefi’s Contractual Equilibrium Doctrine (ACED) as an interdisciplinary model for addressing contractual disequilibrium in long-term agreements such as construction projects and public–private partnerships (PPPs). Drawing on Professor Jafari Langroudi’s theory of balance and principles from the natural sciences—including Le Châtelier’s principle, Newton’s Third Law, and entropy—ACED conceptualizes contracts as closed yet dynamic systems that, when disturbed, require systematic rebalancing. To operationalize this approach, seven analytical formulas (A1–A7) are presented to measure disequilibrium and guide remedies such as index-based price adjustments, hardship clauses, and equitable risk redistribution. Case illustrations in construction, energy, and infrastructure contracts demonstrate how ACED enhances fairness, predictability, and resilience in contractual relations. By combining normative legal reasoning with quantitative modeling, ACED provides courts, arbitral tribunals, and policymakers with a practical framework for sustaining contracts and reducing disputes. Keywords: Contract Law; Arefi’s Contractual Equilibrium Doctrine (ACED); Contract Adjustment; Dispute Resolution and Arbitration؛ Partnership Contract.