Events

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Contents:

• Conference 2015, Imperative of Economic Growth in the Eurozone: Competitiveness, Capital Flows and Structural Reforms
• 10 years of the Czech Republic in EU
• Strategy 2020
• Conference 2014, What Is Eurozone's Future: Policy Commitments vs. Freeriding
• Conference 2013, Eurozone Future: From Crisis to Stabilization, Reform and Growth?
• Conference 2012, Political Economy Of Eurozone Crisis: Is Fiscal Union Feasible?

Conference 2015, Imperative of Economic Growth in the Eurozone: Competitiveness, Capital Flows and Structural Reforms

November 26 -- 27, 2015

link

Call for papers

Program

European economic recovery appears to be taking hold. So is European crisis over? The acute phase of the crisis passed, however the medium and the long term issues still remain to be answered. The current fiscal stabilization has been achieved, restoring the stability of the Euro. The policies of the "internal devaluations" are working, albeit slowly, to restore the competitiveness of countries most affected by the crisis. However, the growth remains at best sluggish. The medium and long term outlooks remain highly uncertain, fomenting the social tensions and endangering the political stability.

The restoration of economic dynamism is increasingly perceived as the answer for the "European" future -- economically, politically and socially. There is a broad consensus that dynamic structural reforms and the restoration of competitiveness on the scale of the global economy are the key answers to current European challenges. However, there are no answers yet to deeper questions: What do mean the structural reforms in particular? What is the role of capital flows? And what constitutes the improvement in global competitiveness?

A thorough discussion of these issues is urgently needed, exploring their various meanings, what it may include, what structural arrangements are economically feasible, possible governance structures and, the likely robustness of various arrangements in the dynamic globalized economy of the 21st century. And last but not least, what political arrangements are compatible with the different models of economic recovery and sustainable economic growth.

These issues will be addressed at the next annual conference of the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic on November 26 -- 27, 2015. Especially (but not exclusively) the following issues will be discussed:

1. Eurozone's Stabilization: Is It Sustainable without Structural Reforms?
2. Structural Reforms and Eurozone's "Unions": Fiscal, Banking, Political?
3. Competitiveness Transformation as the Key to the Eurozone's (And EU's) Future?
4. Capital Markets Union
5. Restoration of Capital Flows as the Key to Sustainable Recovery?
6. North vs. South. Economic, Political and Social Phenomenoa
7. "Political Union" and Financial Transfers
8. Demographics -- The Key to the EU future?

The Format of the Conference:

The language of the conference is English. All submissions will be reviewed by independent experts in their fields. Selected papers will be presented in 7 to 8 sessions. Each presentation will be discussed. Selected papers and discussion contributions will be published in the form of a conference volume (book).

The conference will take place on the premises of the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic. For the contributing participants, rooms will be reserved in Brno hotels. Registration costs (which do not include travel and lodging) are estimated today at Euro 190.

Organizing Committee:

Prof. Antonin Rusek, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, USA
Prof. Dr. Jarko Fidrmuc, Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen, Germany
Assoc. Prof. Lubor Lacina, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic
Assoc. Prof. Petr Rozmahel, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic
Assoc. Prof. Svatopluk Kapounek, Mendel University in Brno

Important dates:

Deadline for submitting abstracts (350 -- 500 words) October 15th, 2015
Notice of Acceptance October 23rd, 2015
Submission of the full paper: November 1st, 2015

Contacts (for information and submitting abstracts):

In Czech Republic: lacina@mendelu.cz
In USA: rusek@susqu.edu
In Europe: jarko.fidrmuc@zu.de

Ten Years of the Czech Republic in EU: A critical reflection and outlook for future

CZ: Deset let České republiky v EU: Kritická reflexe a pohled do budoucna

CZ web: 10 let ČR v EU

CZ brochure, PDF: 10 let ČR v EU

Strategy 2020

CZ: Strategie 2020

Conference 2014, What Is Eurozone's Future: Policy Commitments vs. Freeriding

November 27 -- 28, 2014

link

Call for papers

Program

Is European crisis over? EU officials certainly think so. Others, however, are not so certain. Whereas the acute phase of the crisis abated, the medium and the long term problems persist. The apparent fiscal stabilization was achieved via policies of budgetary restrictions. Statistically, the policies of the "internal devaluations" are on the way to restore the competitiveness of countries most affected by the crisis. However, the fiscal and competitiveness successes are accompanied by the rising unemployment and social tensions, reflected in the political instability not seen in Europe for decades. The growth remains at best sluggish and the medium and long term outlooks remain highly uncertain.

The restoration of economic growth as a solution to the "European" future is increasingly on the agenda of both economists and policy makers. Consensus sees the dynamic structural reforms as the key answer. The questions indeed remain. What specifically are the structural reforms? What will be their impact not only on economies, but on the political and social stability of EU and its member countries? And, indeed, how should the structural reform be implemented? Given the historical differences and specificities of individual member countries, is the reform design and implementation the matter for the individual countries or is there a role for the EU as a transnational organization? And if the answer to the latter question is Yes, what is this role? Not only economically, but politically and socially as well?
A thorough discussion of these issues is needed, exploring their various meanings, what it may include, what structural arrangements are economically feasible, possible governance structures and, indeed, the likely robustness of various arrangements in the dynamic globalized economy of the 21st century. And last but not least, what political arrangements are compatible with the different models of "renewed and sustainable economic growth".

These issues will be address by the research and analysis at the conference at the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic in November 27 -- 28, 2014. Especially (but not exclusively) the following issues will be discussed:

1. Eurozone's Stabilization: Is It Sustainable Without Structural Reforms?
2. Structural Reforms And Eurozone's "Unions": Fiscal, Banking, Political?
3. Structural Reforms Contracts As The Key To The Eurozone's  (And EU's) Survival?
4. EU Centered vs. Nation's Centered Reforms?
5. Conundrum of Growth
6. North vs. South. Structural Reforms Are Economic, Political And Social Phenomenon
7. "Political Union" and Resource Transfers
8. Demographics -- The Key to the EU future?

The Format of the Conference:

The language of the conference is English. All submissions will be reviewed by independent experts in their fields. Selected papers will be presented in 7 to 8 sessions. Each presentation will be discussed. Selected papers and discussion contributions will be published in the form of a conference volume (book).

The conference will take place on the premises of the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic. For the contributing participants, rooms will be reserved in Brno hotels. Registration costs (which do not include travel and lodging) are estimated today at Euro 190.

Organizing Committee:

Prof. Antonin Rusek, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, USA

Prof. Dr. Jarko Fidrmuc, Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen, Germany

Assoc. Prof. Lubor Lacina, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic

Dr. Petr Rozmahel, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic.

Important dates:

Deadline for submitting abstracts (350 -- 500 words): July 30^th,  2014

Notice of Acceptance: August 20^th, 2014

Submission of the full paper: November 1^st, 2014

Contacts (for information and submitting abstracts):

In Czech Republic: lacina@mendelu.cz

In USA: rusek@susqu.edu

In Europe: jarko.fidrmuc@zeppelin-university.de

Conference 2013, Eurozone Future: From Crisis to Stabilization, Reform and Growth?

November 28 -- 29, 2013

link

Program

Despite a stabilization at a low level, the economic performance in Europe is remaining rather weak, which resembles the Japanese scenario for future years. Therefore, the crisis of the European Economic and Monetary Union and its possible solutions will remain on the economic policy agenda also in year 2013. Economists and policy makers are discussing not only the efficiency of the emergency tools used during the crisis, but also the possible ways to stabilize the economic situation, reform the financial system and to accelerate the growth.

The Eurozone (and implicitly the EU as a whole) stand at the crossroad. Economic dynamics of the last few years revealed fissures in the European economic and increasingly political edifice. The vaunted achievement -- the common currency Euro -- proved itself to be a double-edged sword. On the one hand the common currency certainly contributed to the increased integration both in the real and the financial sectors. On the other hand, unsolved rigidities in the countries on the Mediterranean periphery acts more and more as an major obstacle to the internal engine of progress and economic growth.

Therefore, a thorough and open discussion of the 'eurozone future" is highly needed. This discussion has to explore its different definitions, including its institutional content and feasible structural arrangements, possible governance structures and, finally, the likely fragility of those institutional arrangements in the dynamic globalized economy of the 21st century. Last but not least, the issue of political arrangements which are compatible with the different models of "green and sustainable economic growth".

These issues will be address by the research and analysis at the conference at the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic, on November 28-29, 2013. Especially (but not exclusively) the following issues will be discussed:

1. Eurozone's Stabilization: Is it sustainable?
2. Eurozone's "Unions": Fiscal, Banking, Political?
3. Competitiveness convergence as the key to the Eurozone's survival?
4. EU Centered vs. Nation's Centered Reforms?
5. Growth and structural reforms
6. "Political Union" and budgetary transfers

The Format of the Conference:

The language of the conference is English. All submissions will be reviewed by independent experts in their fields. Selected papers will be presented in 7 to 8 sessions. Each presentation will be discussed. Selected papers and discussion contributions will be published in the form of a conference volume (book).

The conference will take place on the premises of the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic. For the contributing participants, rooms will be reserved in Brno hotels. Registration costs (which do not include travel and lodging) are estimated today at Euro 190.

Organizing Committee: Prof. Antonin Rusek, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, USA Prof. Dr. Jarko Fidrmuc, Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen, Germany, Assoc. Prof. Lubor Lacina, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic, Dr. Petr Rozmahel, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic.

Conference 2012, Political Economy Of Eurozone Crisis: Is Fiscal Union Feasible?

November 22 -- 23, 2012

link

Program

The crisis of the European Economic and Monetary Union entered remain on the economic-policy agenda. The longer term structural and governance problems for the EMU remain and may even intensify. The recent experiences highlighted the key role of the structural differences among the Eurozone countries and the need to address them. Without it, the long term prospects of the Euro common currency are in doubt.

The prevalence of professional opinions today indicate that the "Fiscal Union" may be necessary to reconcile the survivability of the common currency with the structural diversity of the EMU member countries, especially when the latter involves not only economic, but political, social and historical realities as well. However, the meaning of the "Fiscal Union" remains unclear, with only a vaguely defined content, controversial governance structures, and, what is perhaps most important, the ill defined and unanalyzed economic functioning. The political wishes and dreams to preserve the common currency Euro dominate the economic analysis -- exactly the approach which brought us the current crisis. A thorough discussion of the concept of 'fiscal union' is needed, exploring the various meanings of the concept, what it may include, what structural arrangements are economically feasible, possible governance structures and, indeed, the likely robustness of various arrangements in the dynamic globalized economy of the 21st century. And last but not least, what political arrangements are compatible with the different models of "fiscal union".

These issues will be address by the research and analysis at the conference at the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic in November 22-23, 2012. Especially (but not exclusively) the following issues will be discussed:

1. History:  Maastricht Treaty and Beyond: Broadening and Deepening
2. Trip down memory lane: Eurozone 1999 -- 2009
3. Does OCA necessitate a fiscal union? Has the OCA-endogeneity hypothesis to be reconsidered?
4. After 2009: Economic theory encounters political and social realities
5. Challenges and Strategic Choices Facing the EU: Is The Fiscal Union Feasible?
6. "Fiscal Union": Concepts and the future
7. Savings and Current accounts
8. Eurozone's Demographics and Fiscal Stance: Implications the Future?

The Format of the Conference:

The language of the conference is English. All submissions will be reviewed by independent experts in their fields. Selected papers will be presented in 7 to 8 sessions. Each presentation will be discussed. Selected papers and discussion contributions will be published in the form of a conference volume (book).

The conference will take place on the premises of the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic. For the contributing participants, rooms will be reserved in Brno hotels. Registration costs (which do not include travel and lodging) are estimated today at Euro 190.

Organizing Committee: Prof. Antonin Rusek, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, USA Prof. Dr. Jarko Fidrmuc, Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen, Germany Assoc. Prof. Lubor Lacina, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic, Dr. Petr Rozmahel, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic.