CALL FOR PAPERS AND PROPOSALS
SAESM Nepal invites concept note or
full paper from undergraduate Nepali students for 11
th South Asian
Economics Students’ Meet (SAESM) to be held in Thimphu, Bhutan during December
24-29, 2014. Please find the details of the call below and this year conference
theme is “South Asian Integration: Prospects and Challaenges”. The deadline for
concept note and full paper is August 31, 2014 and should be sent to
saesm.nepal@gmail.com. SAESM Nepal will
make final selection of student within next week of deadline and the full (revised
paper) should be submitted by End of September.
About SAESM
South Asian Economics Students Meet (SAESM) is an
independently organized, World Bank supported academic event, involving
undergraduate economics students from South Asian Countries. SAESM conference
provides a unique platform to the young economics brains from South Asia to
come together and share their views and opinions on the thematic issues. Each
SAESM has a particular theme that is relevant and related to the political
economy of South Asia. SAESM conference started in 2004 with New Delhi being
the host city. In 2013, 10th
SAESM was held in
Lahore, Pakistan. Colombo, Dhaka and Kathmandu have been other venues for
SAESM. Afghanistan is the newest member of this club, which joined it in 2013.
SAESM is organized by a steering committee consisting of the country
coordinators.
Theme
Regional Integration and collaboration is undergoing a
consolidation in recent times. In all the regions of the contemporary world,
including Asia, there is a growing trend of market consolidation through
regional collaboration in the form of bilateral and regional trade agreements.
Regional cooperation and integration facilitates market expansion and create
trade opportunities. Extent of market integration in South Asia lags far behind
other regions, even though there is higher potential for integrated trade and
investment. Evidence suggests that intra-regional trade among the SAFTA members
is not increasing significantly. At Present, intra-regional trade in South Asia
accounts for only about five percent of its total global trade, while it is
about 65% for EU, 50% for NAFTA and 25% for ASESAN. SAESM 2014 aims to explore
the potential of regional integration and identify its prospects and
challenges.
Participation
Each member country shall be represented by a team of 10
students and 2 faculty members. Six students should write and present a
research paper on a sub theme, such that, all the sub themes are covered.
Remaining four participants should participate both in the Budding Economist
and quiz competition. However, the Budding Economist Competition is open to
other participants too. Two students, from among the research paper presenters,
shall also participate in a panel discussion. Alongside the main competitive events, there will be
an additional open essay competition sponsored by Prodyot Elaborate, a US based
consultancy firm. Participation in this essay competition is voluntary.
Call for Research papers
Sub Theme 1: Linkages between
Trade, Development and Poverty Alleviation
Trade affects poverty in multiple ways through its effect on
economic growth, employment generation and income distribution. The
relationship between trade and growth, and, trade and poverty is predominantly
envisaged through an export-led growth strategy. A pro-poor growth policy has a
greater impact on reducing poverty, than growth per se. The benefits of
economic growth resulting from international trade can positively impact the
poor through increased spending in health, education and social welfare, an
increase in employment opportunities and the acquisition of new skills and
technologies. Trade can also negatively impact poor through increased influence
of transnational corporations on domestic economic and political decision
making, loss of employment opportunities in formerly protected industries,
exploitation of vulnerable and marginalized groups and increased environmental
degradation.
Paper presenters can work to identify set of conditions,
which, if satisfied, would help in creating a system that would transmit
benefits of trade and liberalization to the poor. They can investigate various
dimensions of the issue- channels of such linkages, policy orientation, impact
assessment, policy and institutional constraints and trinity of trade, labor
markets and unemployment with a South Asian perspective. The followings are
some of the specific questions that can be explored: - What are the channels
through which trade affects poverty in South Asia? What are the channels
through which trade affects development? Can trade lead to pro-poor growth?
Will a more integrated South Asia reduce inequality?
Sub Theme 2: Cost of Economic
Non-Cooperation to the Consumers in South Asia
Intra-regional trade of South Asia has been very low. In last
20 years, share of intra-regional trade in South Asia has remained constant at
about 5% of its total global trade. Due to non-cooperation, billions of dollars
flow out of the regional every year. It is important to analyze the cost the
consumers are bearing due to non-cooperation and pro protectionist policies.
South Asian countries fare poorly in terms of trade liberalization and
concomitant consumer welfare enhancement efforts. There is hardly any
discussion at the political level on the benefits that enhanced intra-regional
trade would bring to the consumers of this region. It is this vacuum that
primarily needs to be addressed in this conference. Paper presenters can
analyze the impact of non-cooperation or proprotectionist policies on prices,
real income and poverty; assess the cost in terms of loss of consumer‟s welfare
(or, potential impact of integrated South Asia on consumer welfare) and
identify top priorities for South Asian regional integration from a consumer‟s
perspective.
Sub Theme 3: FDI and
Technological Transfers within South Asia
Share of SAARC in global FDI inflows is very minuscule, about
0.6%. Within SAARC, FDI from outside is far more important than the FDI from
within the region. Even the share of intra-regional FDI is not significant,
although, there are inter country variances. Both the theory and evidence from
regional associations suggests that measures that reduce trade costs among
member countries tend to depress horizontal FDI and promote vertical FDI. Role
of FDI in the transfer and diffusion of technology for sustainable development
within the region is far below its potential. While the intra-SAARC trade has
been more extensively analyzed, FDI-trade and FDI-technological transfers have
received little research attention.
The paper presenters can assess the existing FDI policy
frameworks, analyze the factors that affect FDI inflows, review the trends in
the intra-regional FDI inflows, identify channels of technological transfers
and their effectiveness, assess the impact of FDI on productivity, employment
and wages and establish whether intra-regional FDI substitute the trade.
Sub Theme 4: Trade Facilitation
and Competitiveness in South Asia
Poor cross border trade infrastructure is one of the major
reasons of low level of competiveness for intra-regional trade in South Asia.
There are numerous hurdles in trade facilitation, hindering the promotion of
intra-regional trade within SAARC. The lack of harmonized transport systems,
frequent reloading of goods, port congestion, complicated customs clearance
procedures, non-transparent administrative procedures are most binding trade
facilitation constraints. A major part of this region is landlocked without
easy access to major seaports. The lack of efficient road and rail network
further adds to the transaction cost of trade.
Paper
presenters can measure the transaction cost of intra-regional trade, evaluate
the impact of trade logistics on competitive advantage, examine how the policy
regulation and infrastructure impact trade facilitation, judge the potential of
trade corridors and identify challenges and opportunities for trade
facilitation.
Sub Theme 5: Political Economy
of Regional Cooperation in South Asia
Attempts for regional integration have witnessed vastly
dissimilar performances; some have experienced remarkable growth in trade and
cooperation among members, while others have achieved little. Studies reflect that
performances differ because of the differences among regional association in
terms of objectives they aim to achieve, balance of power among member states,
and political structures and processes of decision-making within individual
member states. Extremely skewed balance of power and near hostile relations
among its member states has stunted its effectiveness. SAARC nations need to
dispel the atmosphere of distrust and suspicion, and build cordial relations.
There is also a need to empower the regional institutions to function as a competent
facilitator of cooperation in South Asia. Paper Presenters can examine the
factors that restrict regional cooperation (such as domestic dynamics of trade
between India and Pakistan), identify trade conditions necessary to mainstream
trade into national development strategy, level of vertical
Sub Theme 6: South Asia in
Global Perspective
South Asia is a strategically important region. It is home to
more than a fifth of the world‟s population. South Asia has been one of the
fastest growing regions in past decades. In future too, it will significantly
affect the pace and pattern of global development. Strong intra-regional
cooperation can significantly improve the collective bargaining power of the
South Asian countries in global trade negotiations. Future of South Asia lies
not only in expanding intra-regional cooperation but also in expanding
inter-regional cooperation.
Paper
presenters can analyze potential role of South Asia in global economy, examine
the potential role that FDI can play to facilitate greater integration of South
Asia into global economy, identify what lessons can be learnt from other
regional associations such as ASEAN and EU and examine possible advantages of
looking beyond South Asia.
Format for Submission
1) Maximum word limit for a complete paper is 4000 words
2) Authors should follow the APA style for referencing and
in-text citation.
3) Font: Times New Roman, font size: 12; with 1.5 line
spacing; and standard (1 inch) margins.
4) Any tables and figures included should be numbered, and
should be in black and white.
5) A title page should include the sub-theme title, paper
title, names of the author, institution and country respectively, and the date.
6) A Papers
should have an abstract, which should not exceed a world limit of 150
Evaluation Criteria
All the authors of research papers shall have to make a 15 minutes
presentation of their papers. A research paper shall be evaluated for 100 marks
(65 marks for the paper and 35 marks for presentation).
Panel Discussion
A country team consisting of two students, from among the
paper presenters, shall also participate in a panel discussion on the theme „South
Asian Integration: Prospects and Challenges‟. Each member of a team will be
given five minutes to present his/her views, followed by a question answer
session. The event aims to evaluate the ability of young economists to
comprehend the issue, discuss it logically and adhere to ethical values while
undertaking such discussions. Best team will be selected by a panel of judges.
Quiz Competition
Each country shall have a team of four participants for the
quiz competition. The quiz competition will consist of five rounds, of which,
three rounds will be on economic theories and concepts (Microeconomics,
Macroeconomics and Development Economics) and a round each on South Asia and
general awareness. Each participant of the quiz competition shall also
participate individually in the Budding Economist competition.
Budding Economist of South Asia
All participants can compete in the Budding Economist
competition. This is a competition that seeks to test individuals on a variety
of skill sets. The Budding Economist competition will consist of following
events:
1) Essay competition: each
participant shall submit an essay on “How the greater regional cooperation will
change the lives of people in South Asia?” Authors are expected to provide real
examples or anecdotes to support their views. Essay should not exceed 4000
words.
2) Written test: on microeconomics,
macroeconomics and development economics
3) Visual Round: Discuss an image
shown to them by applying any economics theory and vocabulary.
4) Panel Interview: answer questions from a panel of judges
in the final event of the meet.
Marks obtained by a participant in each event shall be
carried forward. First round of elimination will be done by combining the marks
of the essay and test. Top twenty participants will qualify for the next round
and take part in the visual round. Top seven
participants will proceed to the final round of panel
interview. A participant with highest aggregate marks shall be declared the
winner.
Open Essay Competition
All the participants are invited to submit an essay on “Risk
Management in Financial Institutions‟ The essay shall not exceed 4000 words.
Best three essays will be awarded a cash prize. Authors of best three essays
shall have to make a power point presentation on their work. Each presenter
shall have not more than 8 slides to be presented in five minutes.
Risk management within financial institutions has
traditionally focused only on the financial risk management aspect. Since the
global financial crisis of 2008, banks are implementing enterprise risk
management (ERM) framework to strengthen their internal processes and practices
for risk identification and monitoring. Given this backdrop, authors need to
address issues such as - the extent to which banking sector in their country
has strengthened its risk management practices since the financial crisis, and,
whether enhance regulations and robust risk management processes within the
financial sector help identify systemic risk and circumvent a financial crisis
in future.
Submission Deadlines
All the
research papers and essays shall be submitted to the conference organizers not
later than November 20, 2014.
Retreat
After three days of rigorous academic activities, the
participants will have three days of retreat (27-29 December, 2014). Retreat
will provide an opportunity to witness the pristine nature and unique cultural
heritage of the Land of peaceful Dragon. Retreat will allow the participants to
visit famous Dzongs and Monasteries in historical cities of Thimphu, Punakha
and Paro. Like academic events, retreat also forms a compulsory part of the
conference. Every participant including faculty members shall have to pay a
registration fee of US$ 150, to meet the cost of retreat.
SAESM Nepal team
Prof. Dr. Bishwambher Pyakuryal- Chairman
Naveen Adhikari- Executive Coordinator
Khagendra Katuwal- Member
Baburam Karki-Member
Nirmal K Raut-Member
Event Logistics
The
host country will provide travel fare from the respective capital cities of
each country to Paro. All the registered participants will be provided with food,
shared accommodation and local transportation during the conference. Other
costs borne (such as visa fees, internal travel in home countries, and
discretionary spending during the event) shall not be reimbursed. Further
details, including visa processing and travel logistics, will be communicated
to the country coordinators at an appropriate time. The country coordinators
shall disseminate such information to all the participants.
