AIPRG Annual Conference
Armenia: Achieving sustainable growth – a transformation challenge
June 1-2, 2013, at the World Bank, Washington, DC, USA
The Armenian International Policy Research Group (AIPRG) is calling for papers for its 8th Annual Conference on the economy of Armenia, to be held on June 1-2, 2013, at the World Bank, Washington, DC.
The main theme of the conference is: Armenia: Achieving sustainable growth – a transformation challenge
After a deep contraction in 2009, the economy of Armenia is returning to broad-based growth. Public finances are gradually improving, international reserves have recovered, credit to the private sector is rising, and banks? profitability and asset quality are recovering. However, Armenia?s economic growth continues to remain vulnerable to growth prospects of the main trading partners (including Russia, Europe) and the impact of the main commodity prices. While tax and customs reforms are implemented, revenue collection continues to be strenuous task. The balance of payment pressures remain, given continued large current account deficit. While banking sector is well-capitalized and sound, it remains exposed to a number of risks arising from potential vulnerabilities in real and external sectors. Enhancing the concept of inclusiveness of the growth continues to remain challenging: these includes, but not limited to improvement of business and competitive environment, management of public financial resources and creation of equal opportunity for all members of the society.
Armenia is capable to overcome these challenges; however the urgency for rigorous structural reforms becomes even more important.Given this background, the papers may broadly address the following topics:
1. Enhancing growth opportunities in Armenia, and the impact of government policies.
2. Public finance, including tax policies and fiscal sustainability.
3. Making growth inclusive: job creation, enhancing competitiveness, human development (education health) and social protection.
4. Fostering financial markets, exploring new saving opportunities.
5. Other proposals that broadly touch upon the main theme of the conference.
The best papers will be selected for presentation at the conference either in person or via videoconferencing facility at the Washington DC. Most well received and academically strong papers will be considered for publication in the Armenian Journal of Public Policy (AJPP).
Interested authors should email their abstracts to info@aiprg.net by March 22, 2013. The Selection Committee will notify authors of accepted abstracts by April 2, 2013. Final paper submission deadline is May 1, 2013.
Depending on the quality of abstract and the interest of the topic, the author might be allowed to submit to the conference the presentation only, with the commitment to submit the final paper, if selected for publication in AJPP.
Members of the selection committee include:
David Joulfaian, Middlebury College
Representative of the IMF
Ms. Rashmi Shankar, World Bank
Bryan Roberts, Econometrica Inc. (George Washington University)
Nerses Yeritsyan, Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Armenia
Heghine Manasyan, Caucasus Research Resource Centers Armenia Director