Conference on Southeast Asia’s Economic Research and Development

Economic research and development is a crucial part of our lives. It contributes to economic growth and development in Southeast Asia even though this region limits the number of its human resources and capital to produce research studies on important topics that affect the livelihood and the country’s progress. The list of challenges facing our economies and people seems to be growing all the time. While many countries had not fully recovered from the “Great Recession,” the COVID-19 pandemic had hit our societies hard, against the backdrop of rising unemployment, inequality, climate challenge, and the political stability in the region.

While the magnitude of the economic and health shocks has been amplified by the underfunding of systems over the past decades, it is concerning that voices are beginning to call for a return to austerity policies when we should instead be investing in the industrial transition, infrastructure and other social cohesion and resilience policies. Despite the effort of each government, they challenge to offer adequate tools and implement effective policies to address real problems. In that situation, they require more input from academia and stakeholders based on formulating coherent policy proposals relevant to the real world.

The avenues of economic research in Southeast Asia are being developed both qualitative and quantitative, including the issue of conceptualization, methodology, modeling, theory, as well as empirically calibrated economic policy formulation. In particular, there is an urgent need to pursue research in economic development and social inclusion.

This conference aims to provide an opportunity to PhD students, young scholars, and researchers in the field of economics and social science to share their research and exchange knowledge in different study agendas and backgrounds, as well as to receive feedback on their work from senior researchers and practitioners.

Regarding this background, on behalf of the Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE) and the Young Scholar Initiative’s History of Economic Thought (YSI HET), jointly invite papers from PhD scholars and early career researchers for a two-day conference on economic research and development-related aspects that focused on Southeast Asia region or a specific country in Southeast Asia. This submission can be in the areas listed below, but not limited to it, and can have papers to economic research and development-related issues.

• History of economic thought: Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand. How does economic theory influence government policy in Southeast Asia? How did economic ideologies apply in the context of ASEAN countries? History of economic thought in Southeast Asia.
• Monetary policy, fiscal policy, financial reform, banking system, economic growth, and structural change
• Socioeconomics, social protection, social inclusion, social reform, demographic development
• Green economics, green energy and renewable energy, climate change, forestation
• Health economics, public budget on health care system, risk and insurance impact on patients.
• Gender inequality in the labor market and education, feminist economics, care economics
• Political economy and public policy
• Small, medium enterprises, local firms’ development, and e-business
• International economics and trade, product diversification and trade negotiation
• Industrial transition, industrial policy and development, infrastructure development, labor market transition and migration, and technological development
• Agricultural development and resilient, finance in agriculture and rural credits, agricultural production diversity

Important Dates

• The last date for abstract submission: 31st August 2023
• Notification for selected abstract: 15th September 2023
• The last date for submission of the full paper: 15th October 2023
• Notification for selected full papers/paper presenters: 30th October 2023
• Conferenced date: 16-17th December 2023

Application link: https://fs8.formsite.com/CNZLjX/rule2023/index

Financial Support:
A limited number of scholars will get financial support, to cover travel and accommodation.

Academic Committee: Rebeca Gomez Betancourt (Lumière University Lyon 2), Sopheak Srun (Royal University of Law and Economics), Danilo Spinola (Birmingham City University), Tineke Water (Future Forum), Kiriom Cheav (National University of Management), Sophat Phon (Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce), Phanith Chou (Royal University of Phnom Penh), Sattwick Dey Biswas (National Law School of India University), Raymond Leos (American University of Phnom Penh), Arpan Ganguly (FLAME University), Alejandro Márquez-Velázquez (Freie Universität Berlin)

Organizer Committee: Kosal Nith (Young Scholar Initiative’s History of Economic Thought), Sophara Phorn (Cambodia’s Ministry of Economy and Finance), Sophat Phon (Cambodia's Ministry of Commerce)