2021 RSAI CONGRESS
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Call for papers: 2021 RSAI World Congress​

The 2021 RSAI World Conference will be held from 25 to 28 May, 2021. It will be organized by the Moroccan Section of the Regional Science Association International. The meeting is open for the worldwide regional science community and aims to bring together the key elements of multidisciplinary regional science research and to provide a scientific platform for presenting and discussing research at the frontiers of the spatial sciences in a broad sense. The themes addressed zoom in particular on the pressing challenges of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the light of the socio-economic impact of covid-19, in both developed and developing economies, and cover spatial dimensions ranging from local to global development. Such challenges relate to both people and places, and call for innovative and critical contributions from a conceptual-theoretical, statistical-modelling, qualitative, practical evidence-based, or governance perspectives.
Consequently, topics such as urban-rural development, migration, spatial and resources location, border effects, urbanization, sustainable and circular cities, mobility, land use, environmental quality, disaster management, energy transition, culture, poverty, segregation, spatial justice, social justice, gender, social enterprises, policy and governance, entrepreneurship, spatial statistics and modelling are important ingredients of the 2021 World Congress. A new challenge to regional science research is formed by the emerging digital technology and its implications for analysis, monitoring, evaluation and forecasting spatial dynamics at all levels. Therefore, the potential of spatial and temporal big data, of social media information, and of the new spatial maps emerging from digitization and robotization are potential topics as well. Clearly, given the ongoing challenge, and threat, posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, studies dealing with the assessment of its impact on regional and urban economies will also be welcome.
The Mediterranean area and Africa present their own challenges. Morocco, named Africa’s most attractive investment destination according to the Africa Investment Index 2018, is the ideal venue to address the frictions between the developing and developed worlds.
The Ocher City Marrakech provides the perfect setting of a geographically varied and pristine landscape. It is well connected by air, and boasts plenty of high quality and modestly priced hotels. Regional scientists from around the globe can enjoy the desert in this historic tourist destination. Its geographical location at the foot of the Atlas Mountains and less than one hundred miles either from the Sahara dunes or the Atlantic beaches, is a guarantee for a creative and enjoyable regional science gathering.
Our plan is to hold the World Congress at the Mogador Palace Hotel in Marrakech, Morocco. If instead the public health conditions remain uncertain, we have plans for an online mode. Details will be provided later.
Because many potential attendees had previously submitted their abstracts for the 2020 edition of the World Congress, that was eventually postponed, the fees are unchanged. However, in case the conference switches online, fees will be considerably reduced.

13th World Congress of the RSAI

SMART REGIONS – OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE DIGITAL ERA
May  25-28, 2021, Mogador Palace Agdal, Marrakech, Morocco


The Regional Science Association International (RSAI) and the Moroccan Regional Science Association invite regional scientists, economists, economic geographers, urban planners, policy makers, and researchers of related disciplines to participate in the 13th World Congress of the Regional Science Association International, with the main theme "Smart Regions – Opportunities for sustainable development in the digital era". The Congress will be hosted by the Moroccan Regional Science Association.

Welcome to the 13th World Congress of the RSAI


The 13th World Conference of the Regional Science Association International will be held from 25 to 28 May, 2021, at the Mogador Palace Agdal hotel in Marrakech, Morocco. It will be locally organized by the Moroccan Regional Science Association (AMSR) and its partners. On behalf of the Organizing Committee of this congress, I have the pleasure to warmly invite you to Marrakech. The organizers will be very happy to welcome you in this Ocher City, almost one thousand years old, which provides the perfect setting of a geographically varied and pristine landscape, well connected by air, suitable to accommodate you in high quality and modestly priced hotels. The historical background and geographical location at the foot of the High Atlas Mountains and at less than one hundred miles either from the Sahara dunes or from the Atlantic beaches, is a guarantee for a creative and enjoyable regional science gathering.

The Congress will include Keynote lectures, Semi plenary sessions, Special and parallels sessions. Pre and post congress field trips will be organized for interested participants and their accompanying persons.

We are looking forward to welcoming you in Marrakech!

Abdellatif Khattabi
Chair, Local Organsing Committee
President, Moroccan Regional Science Association

Building bridges
2021 conference participation support

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Important Dates

21 DEC 2020 | Opening of Abstract/Session Submission Portal

15 FEB 2021 | Deadline for Abstract/Session Submission

28 FEB 2021 | Notification of Paper Acceptance

15 MAR 2021 | Pre-registration Deadline

30 MAR 2021 | Advance registration deadline

15 APR 2021 | Preliminary Program
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25-28 MAY 2021 | Conference in Marrakech/Online


Plenary Speakers


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Prof. Eric S. Maskin
Nobel Laureate 2007
Harvard University, United States

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 Prof. Alessandra Faggian 
Gran Sasso Science Institute, Italy
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Mr . M. Tawfik Mouline
General Director Royal Institute for Strategic Studies, Morocco
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Prof. Siqi Zheng
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States
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Prof. Edward L. Glaeser
Harvard University, United States
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Prof. Isabelle Thomas
Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium
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Mr. Joaquim Oliveira Martins
Deputy Director at the OECD, France

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The Theme

The congress is open for the world-wide diverse audience of regional scientists including academics, policy makers and practitioners and aims to bring together the key elements of multidisciplinary regional science research and to provide a scientific platform for presenting and discussing research at the frontiers of the spatial sciences in a broad sense. The themes which will be addressed zoom in particular on the pressing challenges of meeting the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development Goals, in both developed and developing economies. As a new challenge to regional science research is formed by the emerging digital technology and its implications for analysis, monitoring, evaluation and forecasting spatial dynamics at all levels, the theme chosen for the congress is ‘Smart Regions- Opportunities for Sustainable Development in the Digital Era’. Therefore, the potential of spatial and temporal big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, social media information, and of the new spatial maps emerging from digitization and robotization will be addressed by the congress as well, as these forces will have far-reaching impacts on human behaviour and interaction in space.Topics such as urban-rural development, migration, spatial and resources (al)location, border effects, urbanization, sustainable cities, mobility, land use, environmental quality, disaster management, energy transition, culture, poverty, segregation, spatial modelling are important issues covered in the 2020 RSAI World Congress.
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The Location

The Mediterranean area and Africa are challenging realities on their own, and Morocco, named the most attractive investment destination in Africa according to the Africa Investment Index 2018, is the ideal venue for a conference that focuses upon the friction zones between developed and developing worlds in the Americas, in Eurafrica and in Asia.  The Ocher City Marrakech provides the perfect setting of a geographically varied and pristine landscape, well connected by air, suitable to accommodate, in high quality and modestly priced hotels, many scientists from all countries, and from where they can enjoy the images of the desert, the wisdom of the Mediterranean, and the challenges and opportunities of global routes and networks. Its historical setting and geographical location at the foot of the High Atlas M ountains and at less than one hundred miles either from the Sahara dunes or from the Atlantic beaches, is a guarantee for a creative and enjoyable regional science gathering.
Marrakech is also known as the «pearl of the south» or the «red city», due to the prevalence of this colour among its houses. Without a doubt, Marrakech is Morocco's most exciting and probably most beautiful city.
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Organization


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Partners


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