YSI @ Workshop on Southeast Asia Economic Development in the Post-Pandemic Era

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted global economies, including significant economic contractions across Southeast Asian countries. The consequences are vast, particularly evident in nations heavily reliant on tourism such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, which have suffered due to travel restrictions and border closures. Slowdowns in production and delays in the delivery of goods and services have affected all nations in the region, especially manufacturing countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. These challenges have led to a surge in unemployment rates, contributing to narrow increases in poverty and inequality as many factory workers faced job losses and income insecurity. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been particularly impacted, grappling with reduced demand, supply chain disruptions, and limited access to finance.

In response, governments have implemented large-scale fiscal stimulus packages to mitigate economic fallout, albeit raising concerns about long-term fiscal sustainability due to increased public debt levels. Meanwhile, central banks have employed monetary policy measures such as interest rate cuts and liquidity injections to support liquidity and credit flow in the economy. Additionally, heightened healthcare spending has bolstered pandemic response efforts, including the expansion of testing and contact tracing capacity and the procurement of vaccines. Despite these efforts, uncertainties persist surrounding the trajectory of the pandemic and economic development, necessitating ongoing adaptation of policies and strategies to foster sustainable growth in the post-pandemic era.

Aligned with these concerns, which aim to comprehensively assess the region’s development after COVID-19 and devise innovative solutions for recovery and resilience, the Young Scholars Initiative (YSI) and Universiti Malaya invite PhD students and young scholars to present their work on related topics. By presenting their work, these emerging academics can contribute to dissecting regional growth in the post-pandemic era, identifying vulnerabilities, and uncovering opportunities for economic development. Submissions are welcome on various aspects of the region’s economic landscape, spanning the following areas:

• Development economics
• Labor economics
• Informal economy
• International trade
• Industrial policy
• Feminist economics
• Environmental economics

The two-day workshop encourages debate and exploration of diverse perspectives on economic development in Southeast Asia. Our main goal is to facilitate a thorough comprehension of the role of research, fostering international collaboration in academic research and knowledge exchange. Additionally, the workshop offers a platform for both young and senior economists to showcase their work, receive constructive feedback, and establish connections with colleagues investigating similar themes.

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: July 20, 2024
• Notification of Acceptance: August 5, 2024
• Workshop Dates: September 12-13, 2024

Participation, Travel, and Accommodation Expenses

Participation in the workshop is free for authors of selected papers. We are pleased to offer a limited number of travel and accommodation support grants to junior scholars in and outside the region. To be considered for such grants, please indicate your interest and eligibility in your application.

After the Workshop

The best papers from this workshop will be selected to contribute to chapters in the edited book volume that will be published by Universiti Malaya.

Academic Committee

Thirunaukarasu Subramaniam (Universiti Malaya), Evelyn Devadason (Universiti Malaya), Daniel Yonto (Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University), Kosal Nith (Young Scholars Initiative), Adam Kerenyi (Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Manishankar Prasad (Universiti Malaya)

Organizing Committee

Thirunaukarasu Subramaniam (Universiti Malaya), Kosal Nith (Young Scholars Initiative), Sereroth Phang (Oxfam Cambodia), Jenny Symaly (Cambodia Development Resource Institute), and Sokhimmarya Chea (Royal University of Law and Economics), Manishankar Prasad (Universiti Malaya)

Questions

For any further information, please visit us at https://sites.google.com/view/sethakech/workshops/seaed24, or contact us; at seaed.malaya2024[at]gmail.com.