The relevance of agriculture in formal employment dropped in many European, Central and East Asian countries over the previous decades. The mutually reinforcing and interdependent processes of non-agricultural sector development and urbanization have resulted in new dynamics and diversity in rural labour landscape. Remittances as the link between urban and international migrants and their original households have gained importance in sustaining rural livelihoods, especially in poorer countries and regions. Yet, in a number of countries agricultural activities still fulfil important safety net functions. However, a potential lack of qualified agricultural labour and increasing wages, as observed in some places, will constrain future prospects of the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. These phenomena are not fully understood in terms of their functioning and poverty and sustainability outcomes.

The IAMO Forum 2016 places the interlinkages between people’s mobility across localities, countries, sectors and types of employment as well as local economic development in the focus. The drivers and consequences will be debated from a social sciences perspective, including economics, political sciences, sociology, anthropology and history. We welcome submissions of papers addressing these aspects with a regional focus on Europe, Central Asia and China.

The conference is jointly organized with the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) - http://www.iza.org/en/webcontent/index_html?lang=en&-C=. Please advise the  call for papers - http://www.iamo.de/en/events/iamo-forum/iamo-forum-2016/call-for-submissions/. We also welcome proposals for organized sessions - http://www.iamo.de/en/events/iamo-forum/iamo-forum-2016/call-for-submissions/#c1282.

Day 1. Spatial migration and implications for rural development

• Links between rural economic development and migration;
• The effects of migration on rural households’ welfare;
• The effects of migration on local governance and transition processes;
• Institutional drivers and barriers of regional mobility;
• Remittances and local economic development.

Day 2. Cross-sectoral migration and structural changes in rural labor markets

• The role of agricultural development in shortage and excess of labor;
• Organization of labor relations and management in agriculture;
• Demographical and structural changes in rural areas and labor supply;
• Determinants of individual/household labor market decisions;
• Local institutions and occupational mobility.

Day 3. Research-Practice Dialogue. The future of rural labor markets

• How should agriculture be organized to generate rural employment and local welfare?
• How can we make rural areas an attractive place to live?
• Lessons to be learnt from Eastern Germany and other countries;
• What should policy-makers do for sustainable rural labor markets?

The relevance of agriculture in formal employment has decreased in many European, Central and East Asian countries during recent decades. The mutually reinforcing and interdependent processes of non-agricultural sector development and urbanization have resulted in new dynamics and diversity in the rural labor landscape. Remittances as the link between urban and international migrants and their original households have become more important for sustaining rural livelihoods, especially in poorer countries and regions. Yet in a number of countries agricultural activities still fulfil important safety net functions. However, a potential lack of qualified agricultural labor and increasing wages, as observed in some places, will constrain future prospects of the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. These phenomena are not fully understood in terms of their functioning, or their poverty and sustainability outcomes.

The IAMO Forum 2016 focuses on the interlinkages between people’s mobility across localities, countries, sectors and types of employment, as well as local economic development. The drivers and consequences will be debated from a social sciences perspective, including economics, political sciences, sociology, anthropology and history. We welcome submissions of papers addressing these aspects with a regional focus on Europe, Central Asia and China. Contributions on the following topics are welcome:

• Links between rural economic development and migration.
• The effects of migration on rural households’ welfare.
• The role of agricultural development in labor shortage and excess labor.
• Institutional drivers and barriers of regional and occupational mobility.
• Organization of labor relations and management in agriculture.
• The effect of migration on local governance and transition processes.
• Determinants of individual/ household labour market decisions

Submissions that do not correspond to the above issues but fit within the general conference theme will also be considered by the organizing committee.

Call for Organized Sessions

We welcome proposals for organized sessions that match the theme of the IAMO Forum 2016. Session proposals should include the title of the proposed session and an abstract of up to 1,000 words (excluding bibliography) that concisely and clearly describes the relevance of the session to the meeting theme and states a list of potential speakers. Session proposals can only be submitted electronically until Monday, January 25, 2016. Notification of acceptance of session proposals will be sent by Monday, February 22, 2016.

Call for Extended Abstracts

We request the contribution of extended abstracts with up to 1,000 words (excluding bibliography). The abstracts need to include a concise summary of the significance, major research questions, data and methods, and findings. Please, use the submission template provided below. Abstracts can only be submitted electronically until Monday, February 8, 2016. All contributed extended abstracts will go through peer review. Notification of selected abstracts for an oral presentation will be sent by Monday, March 4, 2016. All accepted abstracts will be published on the conference website.

January 25, 2016	Deadline for organized sessions proposals
February 8, 2016	Deadline extended abstracts submission
February 22, 2016	Notifications of accepted organized sessions
March 4, 2016	Notification of accepted papers and grants decision
May 1, 2016	Early-bird registration deadline
May 31, 2016	Final deadline for online registration
June 22-24, 2016	IAMO Forum 2016

Conference Fee

	All days	Day pass for Friday
Early Registration	270 Euro	40 Euro
After May 1, 2016	345 Euro	50 Euro

Registration
http://www.iamo.de/en/events/iamo-forum/iamo-forum-2016/registration/

Reduced Fee for Bachelor and Master Students*

	All days	Day pass for Friday
Early Registration	30 Euro	10 Euro
After May 1, 2016	50 Euro	15 Euro

The conference fee covers admission to all sessions, conference folders, refreshments during breaks, lunches on all conference days, and evening events on the first and second conference day. The fee does not cover accommodation or travel costs. Deadline for final online registration: 31 May 2016.

*The reduced fee for Bachelor or Master students does not include evening events and conference folders. Please, include a copy of your student card while registration.

Scholarships

Please, note that a limited number of travel stipends for participants with accepted abstracts is available. Distribution of stipends will be made based on the availability of funds, quality of the submission and financial need of the applicant. Priority will be given to young scholars from transitional Eastern European and Central Asian countries.

A stipend represents a contribution of 40 EUR for up to four overnight stays in Halle (Saale) and a contribution for transportation expenses depending on the country of origin: up to 300 EUR for Eastern and Southern Europe plus Caucasus; up to 600 EUR for Central Asia; up to 700 EUR for China and other Asian countries. Health insurance and visa costs are not covered.

Should you wish to apply for the travel stipend, please, send a Motivation Letter (max. 400 words) and a CV to forum2016@iamo.de by February 8, 2016. The Letter should explain the following: the situation with your financial need, your academic achievements, and the way participation in IAMO Forum 2016 will benefit your career and research in the future (100-150 words). Decisions about the stipends will be communicated via Email by March 4, 2016.

This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:

http://www.iamo.de/en/events/iamo-forum/iamo-forum-2016/about-the-conference/