Call for Paper (KDI-KAEA)

Call for Papers for 2014 KDI-KAEA Joint Conference

• Date: August 8, 2014
• (Tentative) Theme: Job Creation and Business Investment as a Pathway to a Creative Economy
• Venue: Korea Development Institute, Sejong City, Korea
• Submission Deadline: April 30, 2014

The main theme of this year’s conference is “Job Creation and Business Investments as a Pathway for the Creative Economy”, with focuses on innovation, job creation, business dynamics, and economic growth. We also welcome papers from all fields of economics broadly related to the theme. Papers with strong policy implications are favored.

A submission will be accepted only if it is a complete paper with (i) an abstract of 300-400 words, (ii) 3-5 keywords, and (iii) JEL code(s) on the title page. Submissions should be sent to Vice President, Sunghyun Kim at (henry.kim@suffolk.edu).   Around six papers will be selected from the submission.

Each selected paper will be awarded an honorarium of KRW 2,500,000 by KDI for travel support.  In addition, accommodation for two nights per paper will be provided to paper presenters.  Please indicate in the email if you want your paper to be considered for KEA-KAEA joint conference as well.  However, even if one presents papers in both KDI-KAEA and KEA-KAEA conferences, there will be a travel support from only one source.

It should be noted that the submitted papers will be considered (not mandatory though) for publication at the KDI Journal of Economic Policy published by KDI. Papers accepted for publication will be awarded an additional honorarium by KDI (at a competitive rate).

Submissions will be accepted only from the lifetime KAEA members or those who have paid the KAEA membership dues for both 2013 and 2014 prior to the paper submission.

conference synopsis

Title: “Job Creation and Business Investments as a Pathway for the Creative Economy”

Synopsis

Korea in the 21st century is faced with a growth slowdown, and seeking ways to revitalize its economy. Building a Creative Economy is one of main agendas for the new administration to revitalize the economy.   The “Creative Economy” roughly means an innovative economy that combines technologies across fields with a view to raising growth potential and generating quality jobs. However, technology alone is obviously not sufficient and the creative economy agenda encompasses a broader range of other reform issues. Though the idea is still evolving and the action plan is yet to be detailed, reforms are under way.

Korea’s average economic growth rate during the last five years dropped to 3.0% from that of 5.5% in the first half of the 2000s, while the average employment growth rate declined to 1.0% from 1.6% in the same time period.  The corresponding job creation rate declined from about 34% in 2001 to 19% in 2012, according to census of establishments.  The current rate is roughly at a par with the US rate from 1975 to 2005. The young men’s employment rate now is lower not only than the 1999 rate when the effect of the crisis peaked  but also than the current rates in European OECD countries such as France, Germany, and UK.  Further the current ratio of firms with subsidized funding has significantly increased compared with a decade ago, suppressing business dynamics.  R&D spending is among the highest in the world but it effectiveness has not improved so far.

In this conference, we hope to discuss ways for invigorating the economy, especially on aspects that are missed or overlooked in the existing policy framework. Papers on a broad range of topics are welcomed. This year’s conference is a starting-up conference at our new location within the special administration district.

Time and Date: 8 August 2014, Friday, 9:00-17:00

Venue: Conference Hall, Korea Development Institute, 15, Giljae-gil, Sejong Special District