RSAI NEWS: CALL FOR PAPERS — CONFERENCE ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA — 25-26th June, 2015 — Suzhou, Jiangsu, P. R. China

23/03/2015

CALL FOR PAPERS

CONFERENCE ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA

25-26th June, 2015 Suzhou, Jiangsu, P. R. China

Along its fast paced economic growth in the last decades, China went through a fast urbanization process since 1977, going from a mostly rural country to an urban society. While China is not the only emerging economy that went through a fast paced urbanization process, some specificities of the Chinese context lead to unique features and challenges. Perhaps one of the best well known feature of the Chinese economy is the household registration system, hukou, which, by limiting mobility of migrants (both rural-urban and urban-urban), affects agglomeration economies and urban growth. Furthermore, the hukou system, by limiting access to public services for migrants, resulted in a segmented urban labour market, where migrants are at a disadvantage relative to local resident, leading to increased income inequality within cities. Another feature of the Chinese economy that has affected urbanization is the reliance on public investment by both

public companies and local governments. This has lead to excess public investment in some cities, leading to appearance of “ghost towns”, and well as a housing bubble in other places. The current investment policy has also affected the urban structure, with some excessively large cities, particularly when compared with the next level cities, leading to increasing income inequality across cities and provinces. Demographic changes, driven by the one child policy, will be one of the major challenges that China will face in sustaining economic growth and urbanization. To address these issues, the Chines Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction have launched projects under several smart cities projects, to make cities more efficient and competitive through the use of technology.

We would like to invite the submission of papers for the 2 day conference, to bring together Western and Chinese researchers to discuss the past of future of urban development in China. Contributions in the following areas are especially welcomed:

Regional and Urban Growth
Demography, Internal Migration and Urban Labour Markets
Inter and Intra Regional Income Inequality
Smart Cities, Innovation and Competitiveness
Urban Housing Markets
Transport and Infrastructure
Regional Policies in China

Keynote Speakers:

§§ André Rodriguez-Pose – Professor of Economic Geography at London School of Economics; President of the Regional Science Association International

§§ Kaizhong Yang – Professor of School of Government at Peking University; President of the Regional Science Association of China

§§ Mark Roberts – Senior Economist at the World Bank

A joint conference organized by:

§§ Regional Science Association International (RSAI)

§§ Regional Science Association of China (RSAC)

§§ Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy, and Society (CJRES)

Hosted by:

§§ International Business School Suzhou (IBSS)

§§ Xi’an Jiao tong – Liverpool University (XJTLU)

Organizers:

§§ Steven Brakman, University of Groningen, The Netherlands

§§ Tiago Freire, International Business School Suzhou, China

§§ Charles van Marrewijk, International Business School Suzhou, China

§§ Kaizhong Yang, School of Government, Peking University, President of Regional Science Association of China, China

§§ Jiuwen Sun, School of Economics, Renmin University of China, Excutive President of Regional Science Association of China, China.

§§ Yuyuan Wen, School of Economics, Renmin University, China

Dates:

§§ Thursday, 25th of June, 2015

§§ Friday 26th June, 2015

Submissions:

Researchers interested in participating should submit an abstract (up to 500 words) and full paper by the 15th of April through the following website – http://events.digitalpapers.org/udc. The working language of the seminar will be English. Only papers written in English will be considered. Presenters will be informed of the decision by the 1st of May.

Travellers to China are reminded that they must obtain a travel visa.

Transportation into Suzhou from Shanghai Pudong/Hongqiao International Airport

For international students traveling from Shanghai Pudong International Airport: there are three ways of getting to Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University:

By Air

If you arrive at Pudong Airport in Shanghai, please take the airport shuttle bus (approximately 2 hours, the last bus leaves at around 7pm from the airport) and get off at “Suzhou Industrial Park Stop” (苏州园区站)*, and then take a taxi to XJTLU or your hotel.

If you arrive at Hongqiao Airport, you can take the high-speed train form Hongqiao Railway Station to Suzhou Railway Station or Suzhou SIP Railway Station, or you can take the airport shuttle bus (approximately 1 hour, the last bus leaves around 7:30pm) and get off at “Suzhou Industrial Park Stop” (苏州园区站)*, and then take a taxi to XJTLU or your hotel.

Remember to ask for ticket to SIP stop (园区).

Useful link (for reference only): Airport Shuttle Buses

By Train

On your arrival at Suzhou Railway Station (苏州火车站), you can travel to the University by Bus No. 178 (last bus is at 9:30pm from the station) or Fastline No.2 (快线 2 号, last bus is at 10:30pm from the station). Alternatively, you can travel by taxi.

On your arrival at Suzhou SIP Railway Station (苏州园区火车站), you can take a taxi to XJTLU.

By Coach

From Suzhou South Long Distance Bus Station (汽车南站), you can travel to the University by Bus No. 16 (bus stops around 8pm) which will take you around 20 minutes depending on the traffic. Alternatively, you can travel by taxi.

From Suzhou North Long Distance Bus Station (苏州北站), you can travel to the University by Bus No. 812(bus stops around 7:30pm). Alternatively, you can travel by taxi.

Book your car service

You can book your own car service by filling in this form and send it to zhengtai@szztqc.com. Fee: Single trip between university (or your hotel) and Shanghai Hongqiao: 280 RMB

Single trip between university (or your hotel) and Shanghai Pudong: 350 RMB University address

Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, No.111 Ren'ai Road, Dushu Lake Higher Education Town Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province P R China 215123

Address in Chinese: 苏州工业园区仁爱路 111 号，西交利物浦大学

Accommodations

Suzhou is a city with many events and tourists, therefore, it is highly recommended to secure your place of residence before your visit.

Hotel Information

Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool International Conference Centre (from 388 RMB per night)

Distance to the university: 0.2 km Hotel number: +86 0512-86665555

Hotel website: http://www.hoteleding.com/41102070/index.shtml

It also can be booked through http://hotel.elong.com/soochow/41102070/

Suzhou Jingzhai Hotel (from 398 RMB per night)

Distance to the university: 0.5 km Hotel number: +86 400-755-8888

Hotel website: http://www.niuhuhu.com/gh/t6pti82t.action?id=38975

It also can be booked through: http://hotel.elong.net/soochow/01102271/#?