The 14th SOCHER Meeting 2024 will take place on December 11, 12, and 13, 2024, at the University of Concepción Campus Chillán, Chile.

For this year, the meeting will focus on  "Innovation and associativity for local development". As is tradition, our meeting includes a series of activities, both academic, research dissemination as well as social activities that encourage the interaction of researchers. The meeting will take place between December 11 and 13 of this year at the Chillán Campus of the University of Concepción.  You are invited to submit works in the areas of economics, geography, planning, sociology, anthropology, administration and other related areas, whose object of analysis considers space as one of the main dimensions analyzed. 

Important dates

Submission of summaries or complete articles:  from May 23  to September 8, 2024.

Results notification: September  30  , 2024.

Early registration payment (reduced rate):  from May 23  to October 20, 2024 SOCHER Member and non-Member modalities.  To check validity as a SOCHER Member , consult RSAI ID  or here . RSAI membership benefits can be found here. * 

Applications for the  Andrew " Andy " Isserman Recognition :  from May 23 to September 8, 2024.

* The advance invoice option will be offered as required by meeting participants. A web form will be enabled with the data necessary for the billing process.

Inquiries should be directed to:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

More details of the meeting such as Keynotes, special sessions, among others, will be announced soon. 

Follow SOCHER social networks:

X (Twitter):  @Socher_Chile

LinkedIn:  SOCHER CHILE

SOCHER website:  https://www.socher.cl/

The 1st SOCHER Summer School 2024 will be held on December 10 and 11 at the University of Concepción Campus Chillán, Chile.

The Chilean Society of Regional Studies SOCHER, in collaboration with the School of Administration and Business (EAN) of the University of Concepción Campus Chillán (Chile) and with the financial support of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI) through the " Nurturing " program new talent ", is pleased to announce the organization of the  1st SOCHER 2024 Summer School  that will take place at the Chillán Campus of the University of Concepción, from December 10 to 11, 2024.

This 1st edition is pioneering in its nature in the SOCHER meetings and will have as its main theme  "Measuring Regional Disparities: Spatial Methods and Applications" . 

Preliminary program

The program will offer theoretical and applied sessions for graduate students beginning their academic careers, focusing on new approaches and techniques for measuring and visualizing regional disparities. Topics of spatial econometrics, spatial analysis, GIS (Geographic Information System) and regional policy evaluation will be covered, with special attention to disparities in Chile and other international contexts. In addition, the program includes a special module on academic writing and writing scientific articles.

The  1st SOCHER Summer School  2024  will offer participants the opportunity to present their research work in progress or thesis in a special SOCHER session and receive feedback from their peers and specialized audience. 

Language

The Summer School will be held entirely in Spanish. However, the reading material may be in English or Spanish. 

Registrations 

The 1st SOCHER 2024 Summer School will focus on postgraduate students and has a registration cost of $50,000 per person, limited spaces. This registration entitles you to participate in all the modules offered, coffee breaks, as well as proof of participation at the end of the activity. Once the quotas are filled, the registration option on the platform will be disabled.

Although this activity focuses on postgraduate students who are beginning their academic careers, it is also open to SOCHER Members and Non-Members , who can register on the SOCHER 2024  Even3 Meeting page .

Participation scholarships*,**,***

Thanks to the financial support of the RSAI, a limited number of participation scholarships are available that cover registration in the Summer School, accommodation from December 9 to 13, during School and SOCHER 2024, and lunches on the 10th and 11th. December  for graduate students who demonstrate a need for financial support .

In relation to the scholarship allocation criteria, applicants must consider the following aspects:

• Argue the need for financial support to participate in the Summer School.
• Attach CV of the applicant.
• Attach research work/thesis in progress.
• Commitment to participate in a special SOCHER session presenting your work/thesis in progress.
• Letter of support  from your thesis guide professor, or recommending professor that explains the background of the graduate program, the applicant's profile and how participation in the Summer School will benefit the achievement of your research project or thesis in progress. If you do not yet have a guiding teacher, you can attach a letter of recommendation from a teacher who knows the curricular trajectory/performance of the person applying for financial support, indicating their support in the application.

The selection of scholarship recipients is subject to assignment criteria that include area of ​​expertise, as well as the evaluation of the background information presented that justifies the financial support to participate in this activity. 

Applications will be received through the following form : https://forms.gle/4g7v66vddcch4TkV9 .

*It should be noted that the financial support through scholarships for participation in the SOCHER 2024 Summer School does not include the registration fee for the SOCHER 2024 Meeting, which guarantees member status and RSAI membership. More information about membership can be found here .

**Fellowship holders must present their research work in a special session of SOCHER 2024. For non-fellowship holders, this option will be available , but subject to event planning and program.

***The background evaluation guideline will soon be made available to applicants.

Inquiries should be directed to:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

More information at: https://www.even3.cl/e/socher2024?lang=en%3Flang%3Dpt%3Flang%3Den

2026 RSAI World Congress | Request for Proposals

The Regional Science Association International (RSAI) aims to hold a world congress at least once every two years. The last edition has recently been held in Kecskemét, Hungary, with a vast representation of many Countries and all supranational sections of the RSAI. RSAI considers world congresses an important instrument for furthering its mission of global advancement of regional analysis and related spatial and areal studies for the benefit of society.

The RSAI calls for proposals to host a world congress in 2026. Potential hosts are RSAI Supra-Regionals, Sections or Members that have a proven track record of hosting conferences and related events. A world congress may be held concurrently with another event or as a standalone event. Proposals must be submitted by Monday, July 1, 2024, 23:59 CET.  Proposals are evaluated by the RSAI Council. A decision will be made at the RSAI Council meeting to be held in Terceira, during the annual ERSA meeting; depending on the quality of the proposals received, the RSAI reserves the right not to organize a congress in 2026, or to  postpone the decision, so that a potentially interesting proposal can be fine-tuned. This document outlines the application process, organization and expected outcomes regarding the 2026 world congress.

Prior RSAI World congresses

1980 1st – Cambridge Mass. (Harvard University), USA

1984 2nd – Rotterdam (Erasmus University), Netherlands

1989 3rd – Jerusalem (Kibbutz Ramat Rachel), Israel

1992 4th – Palma de Mallorca, Spain

1996 5th – Tokyo (Rissho University), Japan

2000 6th – Lugano, Ticino, Switzerland

2004 7th – Port Elizabeth, South Africa

2008 8th – Sao Paulo, Brazil

2012 9th – Timisoara, Romania

2018 10^th Goa, India

2021 11^th Marrakech, Morocco (online only)

2024 12^th Kecskemét (John von Neumann University), Hungary

Criteria for a successful 2026 world congress

1. The world congress should aim to have significant participation from members of Sections of all four supra-regional organisations – ERSA, LARSA, NARSC and PRSCO.
2. The conference should also endeavor to attract regional scientists resident in countries in which no RSAI Section has yet been established. Subsidies may be available to selected applicants for participation through RSAI’s “Building Bridges” programme.
3. The 2026 World Congress may be held as a standalone event. Alternatively, proposals may suggest to organise it jointly or “back-to-back” with another event. Such a joint or back-to-back event could be an RSAI Section meeting, a supra-regional congress, or an event held jointly with other organizations with similar objectives or networks.
4. The proposed dates of the congress must be such that they do not clash with other events that aim to attract the same regional science community, unless a joint conference is envisaged. The organizers will consult with the RSAI President and the RSAI Executive Director in order to identify a mutually acceptable schedule for the event.
5. The conference should be held at an easily accessible location in a globally accessible city.
6. Accommodation should be available at the conference venue (when the conference is held at a hotel or convention centre). Alternatively, a range of affordable accommodation should be available within 15 minutes walking from the venue.
7. The congress should include plenary sessions of interest to the global scientific community. The overall conference theme and the selection of keynote speakers should reflect this. Of course, local perspectives and concerns may be interwoven with global perspectives and concerns.
8. Proposals should include initiatives to encourage participation from developing countries and from other countries in which no RSAI Sections have yet been established. RSAI can assist financially in meeting this objective through its “Building Bridges” programme but other funding initiatives (e.g. subsidies for participating postgraduate students) are also encouraged.
9. The programme could also include one or more workshops for professional development of emerging scholars and postgraduate students, who may not be in a position to contribute a full paper to the formal scientific programme.
10. The working language of the congress is English but proposals may include arrangements for simultaneous translation of plenary sessions where this is deemed to be desirable.
11. Proposals should include a risk assessment regarding contingencies that could impact on the viability and success of the congress. Ways in which potential risks can be managed should be outlined.
12. A detailed financial plan providing details on the economic aspects of the congress should also be submitted along with the candidature.

Organization of the congress

1. For the services it provides, RSAI Office charges a commission equal to 20% of all registration fees received. The remaining registration revenue is transferred to the legal entity representing the LOC. Any anticipated sponsorship monies will be included in the budget.
2. All arrangements for the organization of the World Congress will be formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU will be signed by the President of RSAI, the Executive Director, the Chair of the LOC and the person representing the legal entity through which the LOC operates.

Application Process

1. Proposals should address each of the 12 criteria for hosting the 2026 world congress outlined above. However, it is understood that some of the information provided by the congress proposers (such as names of suggested keynote speakers, sponsorship, etc.) will be tentative at the time the proposal is submitted. 
2. Proposals should include a list of the key people involved in organizing the congress, a draft congress plan (including dates, location and schedule), a detailed draft budget (including a schedule of registration fees) and a suggested range of accommodations and charges.
3. The acceptance of a proposal by RSAI Council does not constitute a binding agreement between the two parties. The subsequently drawn up MOU, which is guided by the proposal, will constitute a binding agreement.
4. Proposals should be submitted by email to the Executive Director (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; cc: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Monday, July 1, 2024, 23:59 CET.
5.  A decision regarding the 2026 World Congress will be made by RSAI Council during the meeting to be held at the forthcoming ERSA congress in Terceira, Açores.

Call for Candidates to be Nominated as the New Executive Director of the Regional Science Association International

As the position of the Executive Director of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI) will become vacant by the end of 2024, RSAI is launching a call for RSAI members who wish to be nominated as candidates in the election of the Executive Director of RSAI for the next three-year term starting 1 January 2025.

Any RSAI members who wish to be nominated as a candidate for the Executive Director of RSAI should send the following items to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by July 1, 2024:

• A two-page statement outlining the reasons for your interest in becoming the next Executive Director of RSAI and your strategy in managing the day-to-day operations of the Association;
• A two-page CV with a picture.

According to Article V, section 3 of the RSAI Constitution, the Executive Director shall serve a three-year term of office. She/he shall be the chief executive officer in charge of setting and managing programs. The Executive Director shall be the chief operating officer in charge of implementing the Council’s policies, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Association, and establishing contacts with new regional science organizations throughout the world. The duties of the Executive Director shall encompass those normally associated with the positions of Secretary but would have joint authority with the Treasurer for the finances of the RSAI and issuing cheques to cover the Association’s operating expenses and the preparation of a financial statement to be submitted, by March 31 of each year, to the Council’s standing Finance Committee, in charge of financial planning and budgeting. The Executive Director shall oversee the production and distribution of a newsletter to the membership, shall maintain the roll of members and the association’s website, shall oversee the collection of annual dues and the conduct of elections, and shall serve as international conference coordinator, keeping a calendar of regional science meetings and events throughout the world, providing advice on their scheduling, and monitoring the dates of other meetings to minimize scheduling conflicts. The Executive Director shall also have responsibility, as designated by the Council, for the organization and operation of the World Congresses of the Association. General responsibilities of the Executive Director can be seen here (ED_Responsibilities.pdf).

In order to help the Executive Director organize the association and its meetings around the world, the RSAI will provide € 7,500 in travel costs and € 10,000 for secretarial assistance and accounting yearly.

The Nomination Committee for this election consists of Andrea Caragliu, Tomaz Dentinho, Eveline Van Leeuwen, and Hiroyuki Shibusawa. After receiving applicants, the Nomination Committee will nominate the candidates to be voted by the Members of the RSAI Council. The results will be diffused through RSAI News and on the RSAI webpage.

Please see the link for a 12-month Research Fellow post in the Department of Economics (University of Sheffield). The successful candidate will work on a multi-institutional ESRC funded research project on the drivers of local prosperity differences in the UK.

The deadline is May 28.

Drs. Sandy Dall’erba (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) and Dawn Thilmany (Colorado State University) are inviting submissions for the 2025 NARSC (North American Regional Science) session at the AEA meeting (American Economic Association). The AEA meeting is one of the world’s largest meetings for Economists and in 2025 it will take place in San Francisco, CA: https://www.aeaweb.org/conference/future-annual-meetings

The theme of the 2025 NARSC-AEA session will be “Preparing today’s agrifood supply chain to the challenges of tomorrow”. All sectors, issues, techniques and applications related to this theme are welcome.

If interested, please submit your paper or long abstract (1-2 pages) including authors’ name, affiliation and contact information to Sandy Dall’erba at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by May 10, 2024. 

There is no fee for submission. A fee is to be paid to AEA once your paper is selected.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2025 NARSC -AEA session!

With best regards,

Sandy Dall’erba and Dawn Thilmany

THE NEW ISSUE OF REGIONAL STATISTICS IS ALREADY AVAILABLE!

We are pleased to inform you that a new issue of the Regional Statistics has been released and now it’s available online.

https://www.ksh.hu/terstat_eng_current_issue

REGIONAL STATISTICS, 2024, VOL 14, No 2.

STUDIES

Dear Readers,

We are pleased to say that the 2/2024 issue of Regional Statistics has been published and available online!

CONTENT

Dalma Schmeller – Dávid Sümeghy: Is the rival city always greener? An analysis of the indicators for European Green Capital Award shortlisted and applicant cities, 2010–2024

http://www.ksh.hu/statszemle_archive/regstat/2024/2024_02/rs140201.pdf

Imran Hussain – Ramesh Chandra Das: Interlink between human capital and income in Indian States: An empirical investigation for the period 1998–2019

http://www.ksh.hu/statszemle_archive/regstat/2024/2024_02/rs140202.pdf

Slavomír Ondoš – Žofia Sinčáková – Oto Hudec: The re-emergence of left-behind regions: The end of spatial equity and the rise of dynamic movements in Slovakia, 1990–2020

http://www.ksh.hu/statszemle_archive/regstat/2024/2024_02/rs140203.pdf

Éva Kiss – Annamária Uzzoli: Spatial patterns of the Hungarian Healthcare Industry Support Program in connection with Industry 4.0 technologies during the Covid-19 pandemic

http://www.ksh.hu/statszemle_archive/regstat/2024/2024_02/rs140204.pdf

Nikolett Vágó – Sándor Winkler – Gábor Hajnal: The impact of automotive industry investments on local property prices – The case of Mercedes-Benz in Kecskemét (Hungary), 2010–2017

http://www.ksh.hu/statszemle_archive/regstat/2024/2024_02/rs140205.pdf

Gábor Dávid Kiss – Sabri Alipanah – Dóra Sallai: The relevance of network effects on the Central-Eastern European (CEE) stock market indices, 2008 Q1–2022 Q1

http://www.ksh.hu/statszemle_archive/regstat/2024/2024_02/rs140206.pdf

Federico Dubois – María Florencia Zabaloy – María María Ibáñez Martín: Modeling energy consumption to measure energy poverty in households in Buenos Aires (Argentina), 2017–2018

http://www.ksh.hu/statszemle_archive/regstat/2024/2024_02/rs140207.pdf

Tibor Elekes – Péter Gyenizse: The historical Szekely Land and its present-day spatial division

http://www.ksh.hu/statszemle_archive/regstat/2024/2024_02/rs140208.pdf

Join us to our social networking sites:

https://www.facebook.com/RegionalStatistics

https://ksh.academia.edu/RegionalStatistics

Dear RSAI members,

I hope this email finds you well.

I am writing you to forward you all great news - our European supranational section, ERSA, has just launched a brand new journal, entitled "Global Challenges and Regional Science". Please find below a letter from the ERSA President, Prof. Roberta Capello, introducing you all the new journal.

I am confident the global regional science community will support and join the launch and life of this new and important publication outlet.

Thank you in advance for your attention,

Kind regards,

Andrea Caragliu

Associate Professor of Regional and Urban Economics

Politecnico di Milano, ABC Department

RSAI Executive Director

Summer Institute on Exploring ‘X-Factor of a City’

The Summer School in Košice, Slovak Republic, promoted by RSAI (the Regional Science Association International), is organized by Ulysseus, the European University Alliance. This program offers a unique, interactive opportunity to acquire new knowledge and explore the X-factor that enhances city well-being. The week-long program, running from July 8 to July 12, 2024, will be conducted in-person at the Faculty of Economics, Technical University of Košice, Slovakia. To prepare participants, a hybrid Summer Institute kick-off will be held at the beginning of June to distribute factsheets, data, and essential information.

This interactive program warmly welcomes PhD students and young scientists who are keen to explore urban dynamics and engage with innovative methodologies and big data integration in a dynamic learning environment. It will also feature high-quality keynote speakers, and experts in urban development, who will provide valuable insights and foster stimulating discussions.

Organized by Ulysseus, the European University Alliance—Technical University of Košice (Slovakia), University of Seville (Spain), University of Côte d'Azur (France), and University of Genoa (Italy).

Website: https://summerinstitute.tuke.sk/

Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.