Urban and Rural Wellbeing, First Nations Economies and Global Value Chains for Regional Sustainability
RSA Australasia Conference 2019
11th – 13th February 2019, Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract submission and Early Bird Registration deadline Extended until 31st October 2018

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Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to let you know the abstract submission and early bird registration deadline for the RSA Australasia Conference has been extended until 31st October 2018. Please see below for the call for abstracts.

New Zealand and Australia occupy a distinctive position in global location, offering opportunities for unique contributions to understanding of regional economies and their dynamics. As proponents of Southern Theory have argued ours is a history of legacies from colonialism, with enduring impacts on the nature and functioning of regions and economies.　

The centrality of land-use choices and connections to global markets in shaping the economies of Australasia have impacted on the experiences of First Nations peoples and have challenged capacities for innovation and the forging of new regional futures in a post-industrial world. These realities are pressing as New Zealand and Australia become more tightly embedded in global supply networks and value chains than ever before.　

Asian investment is reconfiguring national and regional economies, disrupting long-established relationships with Europe and North America. International students are a central feature of the tertiary education sector in Australia and New Zealand, influencing new investment in our cities. As members of a Trans Pacific Partnership that does not include the US, both nations may see new forms of development that create opportunities and risks for First Nations economies and for regional economies as new markets for land-based products and resources emerge.

The RSA’s Third Australasia conference will address these issues in keynote addresses and special sessions. The conference also encourages presentation of research on any of the following major themes.

Enabling regional development: policy, strategies and practice	Innovation and entrepreneurship in regional economies
Smart specialisation and place-based development	Infrastructure investment and regional productivity
Smart cities and city deals	Urban development and the emerging roles of peri-urban places
New urban and regional theories, paradigms and perspectives	Mega urban regions, pan-regional approaches and alternative regionalisms
Governance, failures of governance and the leadership of cities and regions	Regional livelihoods and global agri-food value chains
First Nations economies: environmental stewardship and economic wellbeing	First Nations economies: mining and the resource economy
Spatial justice and inclusive growth	Special Economic Zones and spaces of exception
Regional autonomy, decentralisation and intergovernmental relations	Local government and regional wellbeing
Industrial policy and strategy, clusters and business incubators	Tourism development, technological disruption and emerging markets in Asia
Climate change, sustainability and resilience at the local and regional level	Innovation in analytical methods and big data
New approaches to measuring the impacts of local economic development	New perspectives on spatial planning in emerging and established economies
EU policy and its implications for other economies	US economic development – trends and opportunities
Implications of the Belt and Road Initiative and the reshaping of trade and political alliances	Early career development in regional studies and regional science: which strategies, what impact?

Who should participate?
Policy makers and government officials;
Elected and professional representatives from local governments;
Regional development practitioners;
Think tank researchers;
Consultants and interested individuals; and,
Academics and research students.

We look forward to seeing you in Christchurch.

Best wishes,

Lesa Reynolds
Project Manager – Events & Conferences

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