RSA Annual Conference 2018 - A World of Flows: Labour Mobility, Capital and Knowledge in an Age of Global Reversal and Regional Revival

The 2018 RSA Annual Conference addresses processes of global reversal and regional revival, in a world dominated by flows of capital, labour, and knowledge. It seeks to understand the political, economic and social factors that initiate change and how these changes are finding new expressions as the world’s political and economic system continues to struggle with low rates of global economic growth, the rise of China as an economic super power, the on-going impacts of recession and austerity, and increasing levels of inequality.The Regional Studies Association (RSA) is the global forum for city and regional research, development, and policy. It runs a diverse and global programme of international conferences and events. The RSA conference programme plays a major role in supporting its members by disseminating their research, providing outstanding networking opportunities, training opportunities and strengthening members’ careers. The RSA is an international not-for-profit organisation with members in more than 70 countries. It has networks that reach over 20,000 academics, policymakers and practitioners globally working in areas concerned with regional research, development and policy. The RSA publishes five high quality and indexed, academic journals including the market leader, Regional Studies; Territory, Politics, Governance and Area Development and Policy. The latter, publishes work relating to emerging economies (the Greater BRICs). This journal’s unique selling point is that it allows researchers globally to publish in their own research tradition rather than forcing a Euro/American model of academic discourse. This journal is increasing the understanding of development in different parts of the globe, and fostering new research collaborations and partnerships. The RSA funds research with seven grant schemes including Research Network Grants, Early Career Grants, Member and Fellow Grant Schemes. In addition, we also offer Conference Bursaries to facilitate participation from countries with known funding difficulties and from those in their early career stages. As part of our conferences and events, we work regularly with a variety of partner organisations such as the EU Commission (Directorate-Generals Regio; Emploi; and Research and Innovation; the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre on Smart Specialisation), the EU’s Committee of the Regions, the OECD, the World Bank, UN Habitat and the UN, Chinese and the UK Academy of Social Sciences, to name just a few. The RSA has a team of in-house experienced conference managers and for the last 50 years the RSA has organised a large number of very successful conferences which have been international in their focus and themes as well as in their participation and locations.Our conferences link policymakers, practitioners and academics working in all areas of economic regional development, policy and research to enable exchange of experiences and best practice. As part of the Annual Conference we will have a full day dedicated to regional and urban policies: Policy Tuesday will feature plenary presentations, panels, debate & discuss sessions and paper sessions on issues and inputs concerned with place-based policies. Conferences organised by the RSA have been internationally recognised for their academic quality, innovative themes, professional organisation, and friendly atmosphere.