Ideas for Developing Asia and the Pacific

Call for Papers: Asia and the Pacific Economies

Seminar on Asia and the Pacific Economies
Suzhou, People’s Republic of China (PRC）
8–9 July 2016

We invite submissions for a 2-day seminar on topics related to Asia and the Pacific economies. We are looking for original research papers in the field of theoretical, empirical, and experimental economic and business issues. ADBI joins Xi’an Jiaotong–Liverpool University (XJTLU) with two special sessions on financial inclusion and infrastructure that broaden the scope of the research agenda. International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) at XJTLU welcomes this collaboration with ADBI.

Themes of the seminar:

Two central themes will be related to Asia and the Pacific studies and the PRC economy. The Asia and the Pacific region has experienced market-oriented reforms, openness and globalization, economic regionalization, cross-border interactions, integration, etc., which underpin the first theme. Topics include Asian integration, trade, foreign investment, finance, and macroeconomics and exchange rates, as well as international economic relations. The central role of the PRC in this process as the world’s biggest exporter and the world’s second-largest economy underpins the second theme. Any aspects of the PRC economy may be explored, including trade liberalization and special trade areas, economic concentration, labor market reforms, fiscal policy and decentralization, and local and federal government competition. Information on previous years’ events can be found here.

ADBI Special Session 1: New Frontiers in Financial Development, Financial Inclusion

Regulation, and Education Financial inclusion is becoming a mainstream aspect of policies for inclusive and sustainable growth in emerging economies. Expansion of financial access, through the development of innovative institutions or technologies, requires concomitant development and extensions of financial regulation to ensure financial stability and the protection of financial service users, while financial education can improve the ability of lower-income households and small and medium-sized enterprises to take advantage of improved access to financial products and services. The objective of this session is to disseminate recent works and to organize a discussion platform on relevant financial development, financial inclusion, regulation, and education issues in Asia and the Pacific and across other regions.

ADBI Special Session 2: Infrastructure Investment Impacts and Finance

The need for increased infrastructure investment in Asia is clear. However, identifying the benefits and costs of projects is not straightforward, especially in the case of spillover effects. Moreover, a significant gap exists between the financing of infrastructure projects in developing countries and the funding required by the recipient countries. This raises the question of whether private sector financing can play a larger role. Besides capital needs, the limited flow of bankable projects represents a major obstacle to public–private partnerships for infrastructure. Alternative financing methods include public–private projects and infrastructure bonds. Mechanisms to reallocate risk are also important.

Objectives:

The objectives of the seminar are:

  • to build a network of researchers in the area of Asia and the Pacific economic studies,
  • to provide a forum for presenting research papers and developing joint research, and
  • to lay the foundations for the formation of the recently created Research Institute of Economic Integration at IBSS.

Organizing Committee:

Yang Chen, Lecturer, IBSS, XJTLU
Peter Morgan, Senior Consultant for Research, ADBI
Paulo Regis, Associate Professor, IBSS, XJTLU
Nimesh Salike, Lecturer, IBSS, XJTLU

Funding:

We provide economy-class transport (international or domestic) to Suzhou and accommodation for three nights for participants from East Asia. Participants from other locations may apply for partial funding.

Important dates:

  • Deadline for submission of Abstracts/Draft Papers: 25 April 2016
  • Deadline for submission of Complete Papers: 25 May 2016
  • Workshop date: 8-9 July 2016

Submissions should be emailed to: Abstracts (250 words or less) must be submitted to [email protected] no later than 25 April 2016 as a Word document containing the title, name, and affiliation of the author(s), contact information and the appropriate field (JEL classification). However, early applications with a full paper are preferred. The working language of the seminar will be English. Only papers written in English will be considered. If two or more authors are included in a submission, please identify who will be attending. The authors of selected papers will be notified by the end of April or earlier. A full draft paper will be required for the workshop and should be submitted by 25 May 2016.

Authors will be required to make a 30-minute presentation. One discussant per paper will comment on the paper and lead the discussion.

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