Call for Papers: The 42nd conference of Federation of ASEAN Economics Association, 5-8 December 2017

Introduction

Since its inception in 1967, ASEAN had encountered many challenges, from dealing with political diversity such as the admission of Vietnam, dissensions such as over the admission of Cambodia, to economic crises of the magnitude of the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 – 1999. ASEAN has overcome these challenges without sacrificing its core principles.

The one challenge ASEAN has yet to surmount, however, is economic integration. From the limited success of the ASEAN industrial projects of the 1980s, and trade agreements and facilitation since the 1990s to the still partial fulfilment of conditions for the ASEAN Economic Community, launched in 2015, the will to have regional interests override narrow national interests remains lacking.

Left to its own devices, this collective will may yet emerge.  Unfortunately for ASEAN, time is not on its side. Growing geopolitical contests that pit a rising China against the reigning hegemon the United States is increasingly impacting ASEAN countries collectively and individually, with issues that threaten to divide rather than unite.  Political and economic convergence of views is now more urgent than ever if ASEAN is to remain intact as a regional grouping with a global voice.  As an example, the TPP sponsored by the US but excluding China has been pitted against the RCEP proposed by China but excluding the US.  The recent death knell of the TPP has not seen off this contest.  On the contrary, the impulse-driven antagonization of China by the Trump administration threatens a full-scale trade war in which ASEAN countries with their participation in global supply chains ending in China are likely to be the biggest losers.  At the same time, ASEAN countries being geographically proximate to China will feel the greater and more immediate impact of Chinese policies than other parts of the world.  ASEAN must, therefore, muster all its resources in its drive to achieve much greater integration. Economists within the FAEA community have the capacity and expertise to contribute to ideas towards “Drivers of ASEAN Economic Integration”.

Conference Objectives

1. To discuss and exchange views on the latest development in efforts to drive  ASEAN Economic Integration.
2. To highlight issues and challenges facing the ASEAN industry today in the context of Drivers of ASEAN Integration.
3. To provide recommendations to the  future direction of ASEAN Economic Integration.
4. To stimulate discussions within academia and policy dialogues on the Drivers of ASEAN Integration, and
5. To strengthen discussions at FAEA conferences to contribute to policy formulation within ASEAN countries.

 
Conference Sub-Themes

What these resources are, and the challenges they face in pursuing integration, constitute the overarching theme of this conference, Drivers of ASEAN Integration.  Five sub-themes are proposed for debate.  These are:

1. Productivity for sustainable growth
2. Inclusive growth to address inequality
3. Growth through competition, and reducing role of the state
4. Trade integration
5. Meeting the challenges of integration in the face of geopolitical contests
6. The organizers are hopeful that wide-ranging discussions of the above sub-themes will coalesce into a coherent agenda for ASEAN as it charts its course in these challenging times.  It is also expected that experts and researchers at this conference will contribute to new thoughts and ideas on how best countries can drive ASEAN economic integration to the benefit of ASEAN and its members. Further, given the currency and significance of this theme, it is hoped that a volume can be compiled so that important insights can be disseminated to a wider audience.

Important Dates

Extended Deadline for Submission of Full Paper: October 15, 2017
Notification on Acceptance of Papers: October 30, 2017

Guidelines For Paper Writing

Manuscripts must be in English. Paper should be processed in Times New Roman with line spacing 1.5 and font 12. The first page of your manuscript should be include: paper title, author’s name(s) and affiliations, contact information and e-mail address, and abstract of less than 300 words (detailed enough to encourage the reader to explore the whole paper). Please note that all papers must be submitted with a PDF format and Microsoft Word format to MEA Secretariat, email address: mgt@pem.org.my

Conference Fees

Regular: RM650
Students: RM400
Registration fee include: Conference Kits, Certificate of Presentation, all refreshments and meals during the conference including welcome dinner.
MEA will waive the conference Fees for the 2 official Delegates from the Economic Society / Association.

Paper Presenters

MEA will sponsor accommodation, flight ticket and the conference fees for 2 paper presenters nominated by each Economic Association / Economic Society. 

Publication Opportunity

Selected conference papers will be published in peer reviewed journals associated with the 42st FAEA Conference. Associate journals will allocate special/regular issue for papers submitted to this Conference

Further Information:

The conference venue and hotel information will be announced in late August 2017.

Contact

Normala / Nancee
The Secretariat

Persatuan Ekonomi Malaysia
(Malaysian Economic Association)
C/O New Block, Faculty of Economics & Administration
University of Malaya 50603 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 603-79560075 / 79673647 / 012-3442956 Fax: 603-79563139
E-mail Add: mgt@pem.org.my