Ideas for Developing Asia and the Pacific

Call for Papers: Toward Optimal Provision of Regional Public Goods in Asia and the Pacific

Toward Optimal Provision of Regional Public Goods in Asia and the Pacific
Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI)
Tokyo, Japan
9–10 May 2018

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and ADB Institute (ADBI) are co-organizing a 2-day international conference to be held at the ADBI, Tokyo, Japan on 9–10 May 2018.

Globalization and the increased flows of goods, services, and factors of production across borders brought new challenges such as dealing with cross-border infrastructure, clean energy, environment, natural disaster response, communicable diseases, and governance in Asia and the Pacific. Tackling these cross-border challenges, the region has benefitted from deepening regional cooperation and integration through promoting regional public goods (RPGs). The concept of RPGs draws on the rationale that regional economies share common challenges for development, which can be addressed more effectively and efficiently at a regional level through collective action and cooperation. Amid the rising importance of RPGs, there is growing demand for comprehensive studies on RPG provision and institutional arrangements that can be delivered in the region. This conference will gather leading academics, policy makers, and international organizations to discuss the theory, practice, and policy implications of RPGs provision.

Keynote Speakers:

  • Todd Sandler, University of Texas at Dallas
  • Scott Barrett, Columbia University

Seminar Themes:

The topics of discussion include but are not limited to the following:

  • Conceptual Framework and Benefits of RPGs
    • Concept, scope, and properties of RPGs in comparison with national and global public goods, data, and measurement for RPGs
    • Case and empirical studies on benefits and costs of RPGs and implications and lessons applicable to Asia and the Pacific, in areas such as cross-border infrastructure, information and communications technology, trade and investment, climate change, air pollution, natural disasters, and the control of infectious health epidemics
  • Toward Optimal Provision of RPGs
    • Issues and challenges, including political economic aspects in provision of RPGs
    • Optimal level or approach of RPG provision and how it can be measured qualitatively and quantitatively
  • Policy Considerations for Provision of RPGs in Asia and the Pacific
    • A framework, mechanism, platform, or strategy to promote RPGs; role of regional cooperation and integration; policy measures and tools at the national and regional levels
    • Roles of multilateral development banks and their policy considerations, including operational and institutional approaches, in addressing under-provision of RPGs

The Selection Committee for the conference program consists of senior researchers of the ADB and ADBI. Submitted papers will go through a blind process of review. Authors who wish to send their research abstracts and papers should send two versions in Word or PDF format (one version of the paper should not have the names and affiliations of the authors).

Important dates:

  • Deadline for submission of abstracts/draft papers: 20 March 2018
  • Deadline for submission of complete papers: 20 April 2018
  • Conference date: 9–10 May 2018

Submissions:

Please send your response to this Call for Papers to:

Kijin Kim (Email: [email protected])
Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department
Asian Development Bank

AND

Paulo Halili (Email: [email protected])
Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department
Asian Development Bank

All submissions should be forwarded via email with the subject line “RPG_{your last name}_{paper title}”. Authors whose papers have been selected will be notified by the end of March. Only selected manuscripts will be notified. For one presenter for each accepted manuscript, the ADB and ADBI will cover the cost of one round trip, economy class airfare, hotel accommodation, and daily subsistence allowance for the duration of the conference. Presenters must be a citizen of an ADB member country.

* NOTE: This conference is a follow-up meeting on RPGs which was held at ADB HQ, Manila, Philippines, on 14-15 December 2017. For more information on the previous event, please visit here (https://aric.adb.org/events/provision-rpg2017)

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