Dear colleagues and friends,

I wanted to write to you personally a few days before officially opening the call for papers for the XL Conference of Regional Studies that we will be celebrating in Zaragoza on the 20th and 21st of November this year under the lemma: “FINANCING AND THE ROLE OF REGIONS AND TOWNS IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY”. These are difficult times with strong economic restrictions and in many cases participants will have to make an important economic and personal effort. With this in mind, we are asking for your collaboration to make Zaragoza the capital of Regional Science during the days of the conference.

The organizing committee –the research groups of Quantitative Economic Analysis (GAEC) and Public Economy of the University of Zaragoza - are making a huge effort to offer participants a great conference. On the academic side, we are putting together a very attractive programme where the plenary sessions will be given by internationally recognized researchers. Moreover, our conference will take place in parallel with the 7th Seminar Jean Paelinck, whose sessions will be opened to all participants.

The conference will be taking place in the Faculty of Economic and Enterprise and the ’Paraninfo’ of the University of Zaragoza, both located in the centre of Zaragoza, at less than 10 minute walk from the historical centre. There is a wide range of accommodation available in the area. In spite of severe budget restrictions, we are trying to offer an attractive entertainment program that complements the academic agenda in such a way that participants can experience the best of our region. On the conference website you can find more information on accommodation, travelling and entertainment opportunities in Zaragoza and Aragón.

We hope to see you in Zaragoza! Warm regards,

The Organizing Committee 

_____________________________________________________

Apreciado colega, querido amigo,

Quería escribirte personalmente unos días antes de poner en marcha el call for papers oficial de la XL Reunión de Estudios Regionales que celebraremos en Zaragoza los días 20 y 21 de noviembre del presente año bajo el lema: “LOS SISTEMAS DE FINANCIACIÓN Y EL PAPEL DE LAS REGIONES Y LOS MUNICIPIOS EN LA RECUPERACIÓN ECONÓMICA”. Somos conscientes de que son tiempos complicados de fuertes limitaciones y que en muchos casos los participantes tendrán que hacer un esfuerzo personal y económico importante. No obstante, te pido tu asistencia y participación para que, entre todos y a pesar del contexto, logremos que Zaragoza sea durante los días del congreso la capital de la ciencia regional.

El comité organizador local, los grupos de investigación consolidados de Análisis Económico Cuantitativo (GAEC) yde Economía Pública de la Universidad de Zaragoza, estamos haciendo un importante esfuerzo para ofreceros un buen congreso. En el plano académico, estamos preparando un programa muy atractivo en el que contaremos con ponentes de reconocido prestigio internacional para las conferencias plenarias. Además, nuestro congreso se desarrollará de forma paralela con el 7th Seminar Jean Paelinck, cuyas sesiones estarán abiertas a todos los participantes.

Para el desarrollo de la Reunión contamos con la Facultad de Economía y Empresa y el Paraninfode la Universidad de Zaragoza, ambos ubicados en pleno centro de Zaragoza, a unos de 10 minutos paseando del centro histórico de la ciudad. Además, en esta zona de la ciudad existe una amplia oferta hotelera. Dentro de las limitaciones presupuestarias a las que nos enfrentamos, tratamos de no descuidar un programa lúdico que complemente adecuadamente al académico para que puedas disfrutar de los sabores y calidez de nuestra región. En la web del encuentro encontrarás más indicaciones sobre alojamiento, traslados y oportunidades de ocio en Zaragoza y Aragón.

Esperamos verte en Zaragoza. Un afectuoso saludo,

El Comité de organización

Migration Impact Assessment: New Horizons

Abstract

Most countries of the world  are increasingly affected by international migration: either as senders of emigrants, receivers of immigrants, or in many cases as both. The composition of the migrant population is often very different from that of the host population in terms of demographic, cultural and socio-economic characteristics.  Migrant settlement is world-wide also predominantly concentrated in specific ‘attractor’ regions, in particular in metropolitan agglomerations of the developed world. The extent to which foreign migrants exert positive or negative long-range effects on the local, regional or national economy is, however, an underresearched topic in many counties.

Broadly speaking, both sending countries and host countries have gained from two centuries of mass population redistribution and crossborder mobility is presently greater than ever before. However, in recent years there has been a growing backlash against the notion that international migration at current levels provides a net benefit to nation states. Migrant-sending countries are concerned about  a ‘brain drain’ of highly qualified workers, while receiving countries worry that the ‘migrant absorption capacity’ has been exceeded, leading to detrimental  economic outcomes and rising social tensions. Of course, there are clear parallels with the other dimensions of unprecedented global economic integration since 1980s, namely trade and capital mobility, of which the benefits and costs are also hotly debated.

This paper discusses examples of a range of the scientific methods that are currently available to conduct Migration Impact Assessment (MIA). It also provides various case studies that may assist in verifying and quantifying the societal consequences of international migration. We define MIA as the integrated application of scientific tools to trace the broad socio-economic impacts of cross-border migration and related policies. Clearly, the impacts of migration go beyond the socio-economic realm and include cultural, environmental, political, spiritual and strategic issues.  

16th Annual BIOECON Conference
Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Sustainability

21-23 September 2014
Kings College, Cambridge
United Kingdom

Hosted by the London School of Economics, the Graduate Institute-Geneva and University of Cambridge

Supported by the Founding Partners of the BIOECON Network: UNEP, IUCN, FEEM, IHEID and The Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment (LSE)

With the contribution of The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)

The BIOECON Partners are pleased to announce theSixteenth Annual International BIOECON conference on the theme of "Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Sustainability".

The conference will be held once again on the premises ofKings College Cambridge, England on the 22nd -23rd September 2014. The conference will be of interest to both researchers and policy makers working on issues broadly in the area of biodiversity, ecosystem services, sustainable development and natural capital, in both developed and developing countries.

The conference takes a broad interest in the area of resource management, development and conservation, including but not limited to: the role of biodiversity and ecosystem services in economic development, plant genetic resources and food security issues, deforestation and development, fisheries and institutional adaptation, development and conservation, wildlife conservation, and international trade and regulation. The conference will have sessions on economic development, growth and biodiversity conservation, as well as on institutions and institutional change pertaining to the management of living resources.

Papers are specially invited on the themes of:

- Natural capital and wealth accounting
- Policy evaluation of biodiversity-related policies
- Institutional frameworks for resource conservation (property rights, market instruments etc.)
- Valuation methodology and its application to biodiversity conservation
- Behavioural economics in biodiversity policy design - Evaluation of conservation policy successes and failures
- Issues of governance and management of natural resources in developing countries
- Development, growth and resource constraints, especially in relation to food security
- Resources management, distribution, development, poverty alleviation
- Institution-building for provision of global public goods

In addition, two expert policy panelswill be held related to this theme. The first will focus on green growth and natural capital accounting as they pertain to biodiversity and ecosystem services. The second will rise to the challenge raised by a keynote speaker in last year's BIOECON conference in focussing on the impact of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystems and the appropriate policy response.

Keynote speakersfor the 16th BIOECON Conference are:

Professor Christian Gollier, Toulouse School of Economics
Professor James Salzman, Duke University

Only complete papers may be submitted for presentation within the conference. Electronic copies should be sent to Kristine Kjeldsen (at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) no later than15th May 2014.Please include Abstract, JEL Codes and Keywords with your submission.Acceptance of papers will be notified by email by 2nd June 2014.

It is also possible to submit 3-4 papers together as a suggested "session" under one of the themes indicated above. The Scientific Partners reserve the right to accept papers on an individual basis, so it is possible that even when a session is not accepted, individual papers within the session might be so.

The conference will open with a reception at Kings College on early evening of Sunday 21st of September. Conference sessions will commence on the morning of the 22nd of September and conclude on the afternoon of the 23rd of September. The conference banquet will take place at the main Dining Hall of Kings College on the evening of the 22nd of September.

Selected presenters will be invited to register one presenter for the conference at the "invited presenter" rate. The invited presenter rate consists of a 100 Euroregistration feethat will cover the costs of 2 nights single accommodation, reception, lunches, and conference banquet. (Anything other than single accommodation must be provided outside of Kings College, and is at the expense of the participant. Additional guests may be registered for the Conference Banquet at the additional cost of 50 Euros per guest.) There is a 200 Euro registration fee for all other participants that will include the banquet, lunches and refreshments, but not accommodation. There is a 100 Euro registration fee for day-participants (that includes lunches and refreshments but not lodging and the conference banquet). All other questions regarding fees, registrations and accommodation should be sent toThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Registration will open on 2nd June 2014. Registrations for conference presenters are due by 20th June 2014. Registration for all other participants closes on the20th August 2014.

Further registration details and all other conference information will be provided on the BIOECON web-site at http://www.bioecon-network.org/pages/16th_2014.html. 

Download the Announcement and Call for Papers document[pdf - 219 Kb]

Dear NECTAR friends,

Please find attached the call for papers for the next NECTAR Cluster 4 meeting on 'Commuting, migration, housing and labour market' that will be held on June 12th-13th (2014), in Stockholm, Sweden.

Abstract submission: April 4, 2014

Submission of abstracts and further inquiries should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kind regards

Ana Condeço-Melhorado

NECTAR secretary

The Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toledo currently has funded graduate student positions available for the upcoming 2014/2015 academic year in our MA Geography and PhD Spatially Integrated Social Sciences (SISS) programs. Current areas of research within the department for these programs includes:

Geospatial Techniques and Technologies
Transportation Planning
Remote Sensing of the Enviroment
Economic Development and Industrial Location
Cultural Groups and Regions
Urban Planning and Design
Geographic Education
Community Development and Housing
Environmental Planning and Water Resources
GIS Applications

Applications are currently being accepted with funding decisions to made starting April 1st.  Graduate funding include tuition wavier and stipend, including opportunities for multi-year support.

More information on our department and programs can be found at:
http://www.utoledo.edu/llss/geography/

Interested students should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (PhD SISS program director) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (MA Geography program director)

7th edition of the Spatial Econometrics Advanced Institute (SEAI14), the summer school organized yearly by the Spatial Econometrics Association.

As usual the school will take place in Rome in the splendid new location of the Catholic University Campus near San Peter basilica. (http://roma.unicatt.it/home?rdeLocaleAttr=en).

The instructors of this year's edition are: Giuseppe Arbia (week 1), Anil Bera (week 2), Ingmar Prucha (week 3), Badi Baltagi (week 4). The computer lab sessions on the software language R will be lead by Gianfranco Piras, Diego Giuliani, Rodolfo Metulini and Giovanni Millo.

Here below please find the deadlines and timetable:

March 20th, 2014 - Deadline for formal applications
March 31st 2014 - Notification of acceptance
May  9th 2014 - Deadline for payments
May 12th- June 6th, 2013 - Courses

All details may be found at the web page: http://www.spatialeconometricsassociation.org/advanced/index-2.html

Send the applications forms to : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Prezados.

Para conhecimento, vejam o link do I Congresso Brasileiro de Geografia Política, Geopolítica e Gestão do Território: http://www.geo.puc-rio.br/congresso/

Eixos temáticos:

EIXO 1: GEOGRAFIA POLÍTICA E GEOPOLÍTICA CLÁSSICA E CONTEMPORÂNEA DOS SÉCULOS XX E XXI

Este eixo contemplará os seguintes temas: O pensamento clássico e contemporâneo da Geografia política e Geopolítica; Os fundadores da Geografia política e da Geopolítica; A renovação do pensamento, dos conceitos e dos temas da Geografia política e Geopolítica, a saber: Federalismo, Sistema eleitoral, Cidadania, Redes, Democracias representativa e participativa, o papel dos Estados nacionais, as Relações Internacionais na era da globalização, a Segurança e Defesa em tempos de paz, as Guerras regionais e as redes internacionais do terrorismo, a Geopolítica cibernética, as mídias alternativas e os novos atores supranacionais na relação entre espaço e poder.

EIXO 2: (GEO)POLÍTICAS DO MEIO AMBIENTE, GESTÃO DOS RECURSOS E SUSTENTABILIDADES

Este eixo contemplará os seguintes temas: O avanço tecnológico e as novas formas de apropriação dos recursos; Guerra e Paz: conflitos e acordos em torno da apropriação e uso da natureza; Poluição, medidas mitigadoras e a gestão ambiental; Mercados do ar e da água, e as estratégias de gestão da biodiversidade; As formas e controles de uso da natureza e o desenvolvimento; Natureza, Sociedade e Sustentabilidades: engenharias e estratégias em múltiplas escalas; Os projetos nacionais do desenvolvimento sustentável; Escalas locais/regionais e as políticas ambientais: contradições, possibilidades e arquiteturas territoriais.

EIXO 3: LOCALISMO, NACIONALISMO, REGIONALISMO E GLOBALISMO

Este eixo contemplará os seguintes temas: O poder local no federalismo brasileiro; Fragmentações X Divisões territoriais; um problema espacial? Identidade e regionalismo na definição de novos territórios; Regionalização e crise: soberanias e autonomias; Modelos de regionalização: crise de identidade nacional? Políticas supranacionais de gestão cooperativa entre nações; Entre o local e o global: políticas setoriais e a reestruturação dos territórios; Emergência de novos poderes regionais: os BRICS; Agências reguladoras e os impactos de suas políticas territoriais; Gestão compartilhada de territórios: reengenharias de políticas multiescalares.

EIXO 4: FRONTEIRAS: UM CONSTANTE DESAFIO TERRITORIAL

Este eixo contemplará os seguintes temas: Teoria e prática sobre os fenômenos fronteiriços; As divisões territoriais na configuração do espaço da política; Fluidez/Porosidades em diferentes contextos fronteiriços; A defesa-controle de fronteiras; Gestão compartilhada de fronteiras: as faixas de fronteira e suas possibilidades; Fronteiras simbólicas: marcas das diferenças / desigualdades espaciais; Políticas migratórias e as fronteiras do mundo contemporâneo; Fronteira, pluralidade e cosmopolitismo; Alfândegas e fronteiras no século XXI.

EIXO 5: AS ESCALAS DE GESTÃO DAS POLÍTICAS TERRITORIAIS

Este eixo contemplará os seguintes temas: Transformações das políticas espaciais frente à globalização / fragmentação / divisões territoriais; Estado nacional, desenvolvimentismo e suas escalas de ação; Redefinição das políticas territoriais em cenários de instabilidade financeira; Novos atores/sujeitos políticos, econômicos e culturais na redefinição da gestão de políticas territoriais; A multidimensionalidade do poder na gestão do território; Territórios verticais X territórios horizontais: a resistência local frente aos projetos heterônomos e exógenos. Políticas distritais e de bairro na construção do poder de participação na gestão pública.

Jadson Porto
Universidade Federal do Amapá

André Torre, Vice-Président de l’ERSA, vous prie de considérer cet appel pour une session spéciale qu’il organise avec Frédéric Wallet lors du congrès de l’ERSA à Saint Petersbourg, dans le cadre du programme TASTE : http://www.ersastpetersburg2014.org/

Le Bureau de l’ARSDLF en profite pour vous rappeler que vous êtes les bienvenus à ce colloque et que vous trouverez des informations en vous rendant sur le site du colloque :

http://www.ersastpetersburg2014.org/#!call-for-abstracts-and-papers/czzv

"FAMILY AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT"

20th Workshop APDR

Domus Carmeli, Fátima (Portugal), 27-28 April 2014

CALL FOR PAPERS

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: March 5h, 2014

The Portuguese Association for Regional Development brings together scientists that discuss the interactions of man with the territory or, in other words, the issues related to the development of people and places. The mobilizing themes evolve according to fashions and so it´s going talking about the location of public and private efforts, and the location and size of the companies and the interactions between them, migration, desertification of the peripheries and congestion of the centres. There are also sectoral issues with strong spatial reference that come to the floor like tourism, communications, infrastructure, environment, agriculture and transport. The discourse on recognizable entities such as SMEs, NGOs, IPSS, municipalities, stakeholders, state and multinationals is also important for the regional development. And do not forget the names of evolving terms such as human capital, cultural, social and institutional issues; economies of scale, agglomeration or context. All these concepts and models that connect them are important and help us to realize and understand regional development.

The strange thing is that we never speak explicitly on Family and Regional Development. There is some literature on economic development and family on the role of women in development and on social capital and development. Talking about other settings, family is sometimes referred to as an obstacle to development in Africa or as an intrinsic part in the development process in China.

However it seems to clearly avoid the term family and regional development even though it appears the family dimension in educational processes, in ownership regimes and in the spatial distribution of their budgets, on corporate sustainability, in dynamic migration, transport systems, networks of communication, the environment of housing and many other dimensions that influence the development of people and places.

In Gilles Duranton and Andres Rodriguez-Pose article (Economic Geography 85(1):23-47) 2009 say that while the literature recognizes the role of institutions in development there are less common studies on regional development and the the family. And although that article reaches some interesting correlations there is a great space to explore that challenges us.

This workshop aims, on the one hand, to introduce the family dimension in the analysis of regional development and, on the other hand, to include spatial reflections on family and development. There is definitely a starting point since much has been said about family and regional development. This meeting is a cross road for prospective cognitive models that integrate family and regional development, methods of observation that allow to test ideas and decision support tools that consider the dynamics and effectiveness of family capital.

Key-note speakers:

Prof. Dr. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose

Professor of Economic Geography at the LSE

Vice-President of the European Regional Science Association

President-Elect of Regional Science Association International

Prof. Dr. João Luís César das Neves

Professor of Economics at the CATÓLICA-LISBON School of Business & Economics

President of the Scientific Council of CATÓLICA-LISBON

For more information see:  http://www.apdr.pt/evento_20 

Thank you for your kind attention and support. We look forward to meet you at the conference.

Dear Students, Researchers and Professors,

The IMASS is organizing the 1st International Conference on the general topic “The Multidimensional Aspects of Spatial Analyses”.

The event will be held at the Real Marina Hotel in Olhão, Portugal, on 23-24 April 2014 in partnership with the Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics (www.cieo.pt), and will be attended by leading international speakers.

IMASS conferences are great opportunities for scholars to joint together with worldwide recognized experts in an informal environment to establish sound discussions on methods and applications in the various fields of Social Sciences. They take place in selected peripheral and enjoyable places able to provide the best environments for scientific exchange. The programmes are thematic and include lessons by guest speakers and workshops.

This 1^st International Conference on Applied Methods in Social Sciences promotes pragmatic social science approaches that integrate a holistic understanding of the social phenomena. Therefore, although thematic this event is not closed to others insights able to emphasizes interdisciplinary actions.

Scientific Coordinator

Teresa de Noronha

Professor in Economics of Innovation and President of the Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics at the University of the Algarve, Portugal. Her research and teaching interests focus on Peripheries, Economics of Innovation and Regional Development. Member of the IMASS Scientific Council.

Guest Speakers

Theme: Knowledge Spillovers, Manfred Fischer

Professor in Economic Geography and GIScience at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria, and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Geographical Systems (Springer). His research and teaching interests include the Advances in Spatial Science and Mathematical Models. Member of the IMASS Scientific Council.

Theme: Social Networking, Estrella Gualda Caballero

Professor in Sociology at the University of Huelva, Spain, and Director of the Social Studies and Social Intervention Research Centre ESEIS. Her research and teaching interests include Sociology, Migrations, Cross-border Issues and Social Networks. Member of the IMASS Scientific Council.

Theme: Multi-agents Systems, Eveline van Leeuven

Professor at the Free University Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Her research is related to Rural Development, Climate Change and Urban-rural Interactions. IMASS Instructor.

Theme: Volunteered Geographic Information and Crowdsourcing, Marco Painho

Professor at the ISEGI, New University of Lisbon, Portugal.  His research and teaching interests include Geographic Information Science. Member of the IMASS Scientific Council.

Theme: Applied Spatial Analysis, Eric Vaz

Professor and Chair of the SRC Committee as well as Director of the Centre for Geocomputation at Ryerson University, Canada. His research and teaching interests include Spatial analysis, Geography, Economics, Health, Planning and Urban and Regional studies. Member of the IMASS Scientific Council.

Theme: Central Place Theory and Gravitational Systems, Waldemar Ratajczak

Professor and Director of the Institute of Socio-Economic Geography and Spatial Management at the Poznañ Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland. His research and teaching interests include the methodology of Spatial Economy, Political Geography and Urban Geography. Member of the IMASS Scientific Council.

We welcome the submission of extended abstracts to the overall theme of the conference“The Multidimensional Aspects of Spatial Analyses” or to one of the topics below.

Topics:

• Social Networks, Cross-border issues, Migrations;
• Rural development and Urban interactions;
• New Economy and Political Geography;
• Other issues related with qualitative methods in Social Sciences

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Abstract Submission Deadline: March 1^st, 2014

Extended Abstract – maximum 2 pages (in Word document, Times New Roman 12) including:

Title of the abstract/paper, selected theme/ topic, keywords, Name(s) and academic title of the author(s), Affiliation(s), complete mail address(es), E-mail address(es) and corresponding author send by e-mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Results of the review process will be communicated to authors by approximately March 31^st, 2014

Submission Deadline for Complete Papers:  September 1st, 2014 

Information on the Conference Theme, Call for Abstracts, Venue, and any other interest information can be found on the IMASS website:http://imass.ca/imass/conference. 

Yours sincerely,
 
The Organizing Committee