4th Southeast Asia Economic Research and Development Conference

Date: December 3–4, 2026 Venue: Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia (PUC) – Siem Reap Campus, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia

Join us for the 4th Southeast Asia Economic Research and Development Conference (SAERD 2026) — a platform bringing together young scholars, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to exchange perspectives and advance evidence-based understanding of Southeast Asia’s socio-economic landscape.

Submit Your Abstract

About SAERD 2026

Southeast Asia is experiencing rapid and uneven socio-economic change shaped by structural transformation, widening inequality, demographic shifts, climate vulnerability, pressures on land and natural resources, and the uneven impacts of digitalisation on economic life and public service delivery. These dynamics raise urgent questions about emerging growth pathways, the distribution of risk across households, firms, and territories, and the institutional and fiscal capacities required for social protection, climate resilience, and inclusive development.

SAERD is designed to be both supportive and rigorous for young scholars from the region and around the world. We welcome early-stage work and fully developed papers, and we prioritise meaningful feedback through discussant-led sessions and moderated discussion. SAERD aims to strengthen Cambodia as one of the centres of regional research convening, where young and senior scholars can meet on equal intellectual ground, learn from disagreement, and build collegial and solidarity-based research networks.

Organisers

Host / Strategic Partner: Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (ARDB), Cambodia — Akkak Pundit Sapheachar Aun Pornmoniroth Center (APM Center)

Co-organisers:

  • Young Scholars Initiative (YSI), Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET)
  • Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia (PUC) – Siem Reap Campus
  • Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI)

Suggested Contribution Topics

Submissions may address (but are not limited to) the following themes:

  • Economic growth, inequality, and inclusion
  • Social protection, welfare systems, and human development
  • Public finance, budgeting, expenditure quality, and fiscal sustainability
  • Governance, institutions, accountability, and state capacity
  • Monitoring & evaluation (M&E), performance management, and public sector reform
  • Sustainability, ecology, natural resource governance, and climate resilience
  • Climate finance, green budgeting, and just transitions
  • Digital transformation, innovation, automation, and public services
  • Food security, agrarian transformation, and rural livelihoods
  • Urban and regional economics; infrastructure and spatial change
  • Labour economics, gender, care, and welfare regimes
  • Regional integration, trade, and global uncertainty
  • History of economic thought, economic history, and path dependency
  • Interdisciplinary and pluralist approaches in economic analysis

Conference Format

The conference will feature plenary sessions with invited senior scholars and parallel paper sessions for young scholars. Papers will be selected through a peer review process. Parallel sessions will use a discussant model to ensure constructive and substantive feedback for presenters. In addition to research paper panels, keynote addresses and roundtables will be organised with senior scholars.

Parallel Track: Master’s Thesis Development Workshop

SAERD 2026 will host a two-day Master’s Thesis Development Workshop in parallel with the main conference (10–12 participants). The workshop is intended for Cambodian and regional Master’s students and early-career researchers and will focus on:

  • Research design and question formulation
  • Conceptual framing and theoretical clarity
  • Methods training (qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods)
  • Feasibility, ethics, and data strategies
  • Structured mentoring and proposal-development sessions

Participants will leave with a revised proposal (or chapter outline) and a clearer methods and data plan.

Keynote Speakers

Keynote speakers will be announced in the coming months. Please check back for updates at saerdconf.github.io.

Important Dates

Milestone Date
Abstract submission deadline July 15, 2026
Notification of acceptance 4th week of July 2026
Full paper deadline (min. 6,000 words) September 30, 2026
Conference dates December 3–4, 2026

Submission Guidelines

Please submit the following:

  • Title and abstract (300–500 words)
  • Author name(s), affiliation(s), and contact details
  • 4–6 keywords
  • Indicate whether you wish to be considered for travel/accommodation support (if eligible)
  • Indicate if you would like to be considered for the Master’s Thesis Development Workshop (if applicable)
  • Indicate if you want to be considered for the best paper award, which is conditional on the submission of a 6,000–10,000 word working paper and publication with ARDB

Submit Your Abstract

Participation, Travel, and Accommodation

Participation is free for authors of selected papers. A limited number of travel and accommodation support grants may be available for PhD students and early-career scholars (≤5 years post-PhD), subject to funding availability. Priority will be given to women researchers and researchers with disabilities. Please indicate your interest and eligibility in your application.

Travel to Siem Reap

  • Airport: Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI) is the main gateway, with direct flights from Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, and other regional hubs.
  • From the airport: Taxi USD 15–20 (30–40 minutes to the city centre). Many hotels also provide transfer services if arranged in advance.

Transportation in Siem Reap

  • Tuk-tuks: The most common way to get around, usually USD 2–5 per trip within the city.
  • Ride-hailing apps: PassApp and Grab are widely used for tuk-tuks and cars.
  • To the venue (PUC Siem Reap Campus): About 10–15 minutes by tuk-tuk from most central hotels.

Additional Tips

  • Visa: Most nationalities can obtain a tourist visa online at evisa.gov.kh or on arrival. Check requirements before travelling.
  • Currency: Cambodian riel and US dollar.
  • Weather in December: December falls in the dry season — cool, sunny, and pleasant, around 22–32°C. Ideal conditions for the conference.

Contact

For inquiries about the conference, please contact us at saerdconf@gmail.com.

Updated information will be posted at: saerdconf.github.io