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The Infrastructure Transitions Research Consortium (ITRC) - conference announcement

The Future of National Infrastructure Systems and Economic Prosperity

27–28th March 2014, St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

Keynote speakers

Prof Roger Vickerman, Dean of the University of Kent, Brussels:
“Trains, planes and automobiles: economic appraisal for a national transport infrastructure plan”
Prof Geoffrey Hewings, Director, Regional Economics Applications Laboratory; Professor, Geography & Regional Science, Economics, Urban & Regional Planning, Agricultural & Consumer Economics, University of Illinois “The challenges of measuring the economic impacts of infrastructure investments on an economy”
UK Treasury – Speaker TBC
OECD – Speaker TBC

This conference addresses the need for new debate on how infrastructure service provision and economic prosperity span a multitude of spatial and temporal scales. Achieving this is vital, as competitive and resilient national infrastructure systems underpin the economic activities of modern, advanced economies. Failure to produce robust analysis and planning methods expose us to long-term lock-in to unsustainable growth trajectories, which is especially undesirable in a period of fragile economic recovery.

The event is led by Professors Pete Tyler (University of Cambridge), Chair, Mark Birkin (University of Leeds) and Jim Hall (University of Oxford) under the auspices of the Infrastructure Transitions Research Consortium (ITRC); the aim is to gather the most innovative thinkers and practitioners in the field to create a stimulating environment to foster new thinking and approaches. Arrangements are being finalised for publication of best papers in a special issue at a reputable journal.

Research themes

1. The relationship between infrastructure and growth, encompassing established and novel, empirical and theoretical perspectives

2. Future prospects for demand for and supply of infrastructure services

3. Infrastructure lock-in and innovation in advanced economies

4. The potential impacts of infrastructure failure on economic activity

5. Incorporating the spatial characteristics of infrastructure within economic theory

6. Methodologies used in the above research lines

7. Interdependencies between infrastructure networks and their systemic significance for the economy

Call for abstracts

Abstracts are invited from researchers at any stage of the career.

200–300 words
Please add names, affiliation and contact details of all authors
Specify which of the research themes listed (1 or more) your research applies to – you may include additional themes if necessary
The file name should contain the first author’s surname
We ask authors to suggest possible reviewers and respective contact details when sending abstracts
File type must be Word or Word compatible
Abstracts will be anonymised and submitted to at least 2 reviewers.

Deadline for abstract submission: 06 January 2014
Deadline for author’s notification: 31 January 2014
Submit abstracts to: Miriam Mendes at [log in to unmask]

For further information please contact the ITRC Programme Manager, Miriam Mendes at [log in to unmask]

About the conference:

Registration cost: £250 per person

We strived to keep fees at a minimum and this modest registration fee covers all conference costs: full catering including a 3-course dinner and one night’s stay at St Catherine’s College. Each extra night’s bed & breakfast accommodation at the college will cost £71/night.

There will be a limited number of bursaries available for junior researchers presenting at the conference, awarded on a first come, first served basis.

Please note that there is limited capacity at the McGrath Centre, St Catharine’s College, so early booking is recommended.

We look forward to hearing from you,

The conference team