2nd Southeast Asia Economic Research and Development Conference

Date: Augest 15-16, 2024

Location: Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, Siem Reap (PUCSR), Siem Reap, Cambodia

The economic history of Southeast Asia unfolds as a tale of resilience, adaptation, and transformation. Over centuries, trade, migration, and cultural exchange have left enduring imprints on the region’s economic landscape. From the mercantile empires of Srivijaya and Majapahit to the lasting legacies of European colonialism, Southeast Asia has been a crucible of economic experimentation and innovation.

In the modern era, rapid industrialization, driven by export-oriented growth strategies and foreign investment, has reshaped the region. The emergence of the Asian Tigers – Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia – as economic powerhouses in the last decades of the 20th century, alongside Vietnam’s recent rise, underscores the diverse pathways to development, blending state intervention with market mechanisms.

However, Southeast Asia’s economic journey has been marred by challenges. Persistent inequalities, environmental degradation, and political instability have posed significant obstacles to sustained growth and development. Against this backdrop, understanding the historical evolution of economic thought in the region becomes paramount. Exploring the history of economic thought yields valuable insights into how economic theories and policies have been shaped by cultural, social and political contexts. By delving into past economic ideas and experiences, decision-makers and academics can gain a deeper understanding of the region’s development trajectory, informing contemporary economic policymaking and fostering inclusive, sustainable growth.

With this background in mind, we, on behalf of the Young Scholars Initiative (YSI), the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI), and Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, Siem Reap Campus (PUCSR), extend a warm invitation to PhD scholars and early career researchers for a two-day workshop on economic research and development in Southeast Asia.

We welcome submissions focusing on various aspects of the region’s economic landscape, including but not limited to the following areas:

Speakers

Sovannroeun Samreth

Associate Professor,
Saitama University, Japan

Chandarany Ouch

Economist,
The United Nations, Cambodia

Phanith Chou

Associate Professor of Environmental Economics,
Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Dina Chhorn

Senior Research Fellow and Director, Center for Economics Development and Trade,
Cambodia Development Resource Institute, Cambodia

Alexandre Reichart

Associate Professor of Economics,
Renmin University of China, China

Program

DAY 1 – Thursday, 15 August

08:30 – 09:00 • Registration

Venue: Siem Reap Hall

09:00 – 10:30 • Parallel I

Session 1A: Political Economy
Venue: Siem Reap Hall
Chair: Alexandre Reichart, Renmin University of China

  • The Impact of Special Economic Zones on Urbanization Patterns in Cambodia
    Daniel Yonto, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

  • The SOE Landscape in Southeast Asia: Advantages, Challenges, and International Lessons
    Jimi Rambo Arranchado, University of Canterbury

  • Smith and Ricardo in Dasgupta: Marginalist Underpinnings
    Sai Chikoti, Azim Premji University

Session 1B: Macroeconomic Policies
Venue: Preah Vihear Room
Chair: Sovannroeun Samreth, Saitama University

  • Macroeconomic Policy Space and Financing Green Structural Transformation in Southeast Asian Economies
    Damon Aitken, SOAS University of London

  • Dollarization and Exchange Rate Pass-Through in Cambodia
    Chanthol Hay, National University of Battambang

  • US Dollar or KH Dollar? An Institutional and Infrastructural Analysis of the Cambodian Monetary Framework
    Clément Berthou, Université Grenoble Alpes

10:30 – 10:45 • Break

10:45 – 11:00 • Welcoming Remark

Venue: Siem Reap Hall

  • Dina Chhorn, Director, Center for Development Economics and Trade, CDRI
  • Samlei Chhoun, Director, Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, Siem Reap Campus (TBD)

11:00 – 11:15 • Introduction to the Young Scholars Initiative

Speaker: Sattwick Dey Biswas, Coordinator, YSI

11:15 – 12:00 • Plenary I

Venue: Siem Reap Hall
Topic: The Birth of Chinese Economic Thought During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods
Speaker: Alexandre Reichart, Associate Professor of Economics, Renmin University of China

12:00 – 13:00 • Lunch

13:00 – 14:00 • Research Discussion I

Venue: Siem Reap Hall

14:00 – 16:00 • Parallel II

Session 2A: The Development of Education and Social Policy
Venue: Siem Reap Hall
Chair: Sathya Chea, CDRI

  • Perceptions of Capacity Development Support Among Sub-National Education Staff in Cambodia
    Chanmi Kim, Seoul National University

  • Critical Success Factors in Cambodian Textbook Supply Chain
    Phoury Bun, CDRI

  • Beyond Storage: An Exploration into Textbooks Management
    Phoury Bun & Lychoeng Na, CDRI

  • Enhancing Social Protection for Vulnerable Populations in Cambodia
    SeYeon Kim, Seoul National University

Session 2B: ASEAN Political Economy and Labour Market
Venue: Preah Vihear Room
Chair: Chandarany Ouch, The United Nations

  • ASEAN as a Provider of Public Goods
    Simon Welfonder, Lao Social Research and University Grenoble Alpes

  • Estimating Migrant Population in Malaysia
    Emir Izat Abdul Rashid, Asia School of Business

  • Long-term Changes and Gender Gap in the Cambodian Labour Market
    Saokeo Khantey You & Yuki Kanayama, CDRI

  • Facebook Usage by Cambodian Ministries
    Sangchana Jak, Royal University of Phnom Penh

16:00 – 16:15 • Break

16:15 – 17:15 • Panel Discussion I

Venue: Siem Reap Hall
Topic: Economic Development Strategies for Developing Economies

Speakers:
- Sovannroeun Samreth, Professor, Saitama University
- Chandarany Ouch, Economist, The United Nations

Moderator:
Sattwick Dey Biswas, Coordinator, Young Scholars Initiative

17:15 – 17:20 • Closing Day 1

18:00 – 20:00 • Dinner Reception

Venue: SPOONS Café & Restaurant

DAY 2 – Friday, 16 August

08:30 – 09:00 • Registration

Venue: Siem Reap Hall

09:00 – 10:30 • Parallel III

Session 3A: Trade and Globalization
Venue: Siem Reap Hall
Chair: Sovannroeun Samreth, Saitama University

  • Global Trade Regimes Matter: Openness and Growth, 1875–2008
    Rahmanda Muhammad Thaariq, University of Padua

  • Competitive Advantage of Cambodian Industries
    Bunroeun Thach, National University of Battambang

  • Globalization and Religion in Southeast Asia
    Kim Tung Dao, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Session 3B: Agricultural Development and Climate Change
Venue: Preah Vihear Room
Chair: Phanith Chou, Royal University of Phnom Penh

  • Can Technology Solve Africa’s Food Security Crisis?
    Fabrice Ewolo Bitoto, University of Dschang

  • Water Scarcity & Groundwater Use Efficiency in India
    Aryama Sarkar, IIT Madras

  • Global Debt Crisis and G20: What is Deliverable?
    Shrey Goyal, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, UN ESCAP

10:30 – 10:45 • Break

10:45 – 12:00 • Research Discussion II

Venue: Siem Reap Hall

12:00 – 13:00 • Lunch

13:10 – 14:00 • Parallel IV

Session 4A: MSMEs’ Development and Technology
Venue: Siem Reap Hall
Chair: Dina Chhorn, CDRI

  • Digital Technology Adoption in Cambodian MSMEs
    Naron Veung, CDRI

  • Greening Indonesia: EV Adoption and Environmental Policy
    Ahmad Sabirin, Universitas Islam International Indonesia

Session 4B: Green Investment
Venue: Preah Vihear Room
Chair: Daniel Yonto, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

  • FDI, Governance, and Patents on Inclusive Green Growth
    Sakhi Roy, Amity University, Kolkata

  • Islamic Finance and Renewable Energy Investment in Morocco
    Kamal Tasiu Abdullahi, Istanbul University

14:00 – 15:00 • Panel Discussion II

Venue: Siem Reap Hall
Topic: Environmental Economics and Climate Change

Speakers:
- Phanith Chou, Royal University of Phnom Penh
- Dina Chhorn, CDRI

Moderator:
Sopheak Song, Deputy Executive Director, CDRI

15:00 – 15:15 • Break

15:15 – 15:45 • Book Sharing Session

Venue: Siem Reap Hall
Book: The Politics of Welfare in the Global South
Speaker: Sattwick Dey Biswas, YSI Coordinator

15:45 – 16:00 • Closing Remarks

Venue: Siem Reap Hall

  • Sathya Chea, Research Fellow, CDRI
  • Kosal Nith, Coordinator, Young Scholars Initiative

18:00 – 20:00 • Dinner Reception

Venue: Pinakpou Restaurant

Travel and Logistics

Pre-reading

All of the papers that have been submitted for pre-reading will be available on Google Drive soon. These papers are for workshop delegate pre-reading purposes only, and if you would like to use or quote the contents of any article, you are explicitly required to contact the authors directly before doing so.

If you have submitted your paper and it does not appear in the list, please let us know as soon as possible and we will add it to the available papers.

We have tried to follow requests as closely as possible to have all papers under review or preliminary drafts excluded from the available reading material. If we have neglected such a request and your paper does appear in the list, please contact us as soon as possible so we can remove it.

Flights

Direct flights to Siem Reap are available from several ASEAN destinations, including Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, Jakarta, and Singapore. Momondo provides a useful comparison and booking tool.

Transportation in Siem Reap

There are many transportation options in Siem Reap that you can choose from, including taxis and tuk-tuks. Please download apps like Grab and PassApp before you arrive in Cambodia. These apps are useful for booking transport at reasonable prices.

Check travel times

The workshop will begin on the morning of August 15th, 2024 (GMT+7); therefore, we recommend that participants arrive in Siem Reap the evening before.

Hotel in Siem Reap

Siem Reap is a tourist city in Cambodia, offering a wide range of hotels from budget to luxury. Please book your hotel in advance.

For young scholars who have received hotel reservations from YSI, we have booked rooms at Royal Crown Hotel and Spa from August 14th to 17th, 2024. Breakfast is included. You can check in at 12 PM on August 14th and check out at 12 PM on August 17th. The hotel is a 5-minute walk from the workshop location.

For young scholars in ASEAN who have received hotel reservations from CDRI, we will inform you soon about the hotel location.

Workshop Objectives

The workshop aims to encourage debate and exploration of diverse perspectives on the history of economic thought in Southeast Asia and the corresponding economic policies. Our main goal is to facilitate a thorough comprehension of the role of economic thought in development, fostering international collaboration in academic research and knowledge exchange.

Additionally, the workshop offers a platform for both young and senior economists to showcase their work, receive constructive feedback, and establish connections with colleagues investigating similar themes.

Important Dates

  • Application Deadline: June 15, 2024
  • Notification of Acceptance: June 30, 2024
  • Workshop Dates: August 15–16, 2024

Workshop Format

The workshop will feature a plenary session, followed by parallel sessions. All papers presented in the parallel sessions will undergo a refereeing process before being accepted for presentation. Additionally, case studies focusing on any of the sub-themes of the workshop will be considered for inclusion in panel discussions, facilitating interactive engagement. Esteemed scholars will be invited to participate in the panel discussions, offering insightful perspectives on economic thought, structural change, and macroeconomics.

Travel Stipends

Participation in the workshop is free for authors of selected papers. We are pleased to offer a limited number of travel and accommodation support grants to junior scholars. To be considered for such grants, please indicate your interest and eligibility in your application.

Sponsors

  • Young Scholars Initiative (YSI)
  • Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI)
  • Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, Siem Reap Campus (PUCSR)