Scope of the Workshop

Large levels of economic inequality—particularly between different regions, between urban and rural communities, and between different populations—are a significant, and growing, challenge in both the United States and Europe. The aim of this workshop is to shed light on new empirical measures to describe the development of regional inequalities, to apply new methods to study the determinants, and to propose new policy approaches. In particular, we are interested in contributions that address the following questions:

• Are innovative activities increasing or decreasing regional inequality, and which factors might be moderating these developments?
• Is inequality higher within regional innovative clusters?
• What roles do international (R&D) cooperation, international labor mobility, and global start-ups play in the convergence or divergence of regions?
• How do inequalities (e.g., in innovation activities, income, growth or start-up activities) develop over time?
• Which policy measures were successful to reduce inequalities between East and West Germany?
• How is the development and usage of artificial intelligence affecting regional inequalities?
• Is the COVID-19 pandemic an accelerator of regional inequalities?
• Is an increase in economic complexity resulting in a higher regional concentration of jobs, innovation and growth?
• How can policy measures be designed that account for different regional regimes and strengthen convergence processes?

The workshop will be divided into successive sessions, with two or three presentations each, and plenty of time for discussion.

Participation

We want to encourage all researchers in this area to submit ideas that focus on the workshop subject. Therefore, feel free to circulate this call for papers. A complete paper, or an extended abstract with at least 500 words, has to be sent by email to bier3@uni-bremen.de by 20th of September 2020. Decisions on acceptance for the workshop will be emailed by date 27th of September 2020.
The workshop will take place as a virtual research conference between 8am EST/2pm GMT and 1pm EST/7pm GMT on October 29-30, 2020.
Participation without presenting a paper is also welcome. However, registration is necessary. Please register at this link.

Publication

It is intended to publish a selection of contributions of the workshop in a special issue of a well renowned journal in innovation or regional economics. To be considered for a potential publication in the journal, you have to submit your complete paper before 31st December 2020.

Organizers

Maryann Feldman
Heninger Distinguished Professor of Public Policy
Director of CREATE at the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Dirk Fornahl
Professor of Regional Economics
University of Bremen
Torben Klarl
Professor of Economics
University of Bremen