The Asian Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank Institute will hold the inaugural Asian Economic Development Conference on 14–15 July 2022 in Tokyo. The objective of the conference is to promote the discussion of high-quality, frontline research on Asian development among social scientists, development practitioners, and policy makers.

The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to undermine the decades of progress the region has made in raising living standards and eliminating poverty. The theme of the conference, “Inclusive, Sustainable Recovery in Asia and the Pacific,” will showcase cutting-edge research that explores how the efforts to rebuild after the crisis can also be opportunities to make development more inclusive and help achieve climate goals. Keynote speakers include Rema Hanna (Harvard University), Xin Meng (Australian National University), and Yasuyuki Sawada (University of Tokyo).

We invite submissions of unpublished empirical studies, survey articles, historical analyses, and policy-oriented research that advance the understanding of inclusive and sustainable growth in Asia’s recovery. Topics relevant to the theme include, but are not limited to, the following:

•     Empowerment of women, ethnic minorities, and other underrepresented groups
•     Shocks, poverty, and the role of social safety nets
•     Jobs, income security, and social protection
•     Addressing inequalities in accessing health, education, and social security
•     Challenges faced by micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises
•     Infrastructure investment to promote inclusive and sustainable development
•     Effect of technology, including financial technology, on economic disparities
•     Addressing implications of disparities in education and human capital formation
•     Approaches to closing the digital divide
•     Agriculture development and food security
•     Policies, structural changes, and finance that support transition to clean and sustainable growth
•     Integrating climate change mitigation and resilience considerations into economic recovery plans
•     Regional cooperation as a tool for inclusive and sustainable development
•     Use of innovative data for inclusive and sustainable recovery Interested authors must register and submit a paper by 14 January 2022 here. The paper should include authors’ affiliations and contact information.

Submissions will be evaluated in terms of originality, analytical rigor, and policy relevance in the Asian context. Authors of accepted papers will be contacted by 15 March 2022.

Authors of accepted papers will also have the opportunity to submit their papers for a Special Issue of the Asian Development Review (Guest Editor: Xin Meng, Australian National University).

KEY DATES

Paper submission deadline: 14 January 2022
Decision notifications: 15 March 2022
Registration period: March–April 2022
Draft program: May 2022
Conference: 14–15 July 2022

ADVISORY BOARD

Asian Development Bank
Joseph E. Zveglich, Jr.
Shu Tian
Gemma Estrada

Asian Development Bank Institute
Tetsushi Sonobe
Peter Morgan
Daniel Suryadarma