items of interest to heterodox economists

["Lee, Frederic" <leefs@xxxxxxxx>]

Items of Interest.

REMEMBER THAT ABSTRACTS FOR THE ASSOCIATION FOR HETERODOX ECONOMICS =
CONFERENCE HAVE TO BE IN BY MARCH 31.  GO TO THE WEBSITE AT =
HTTP://WWW.HETECON.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION


1.	Shifting Boundaries
Governance, Competence and Economic Organisation in the Knowledge =
Economy

2 & 3 September, 2004

A two-day residential workshop organised by the Strategy & International =
Business Research Unit (SIBRU) at Bristol Business School, University of =
the West of England, Bristol, U.K. in conjunction with the journal =
Technology Analysis & Strategic Management

This workshop is designed to provide in-depth discussion in a forum that =
permits personal conversation so the number of participants is limited =
to 50. The conference will be based at Burwalls, an impressive Victorian =
mansion set in its own woodland overlooking the Bristol Suspension =
Bridge and the Avon Gorge in the centre of Bristol.


Key speakers include: Nicolai Foss (Professor of Industrial Economics =
and Strategy, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark), Neil Kay (Professor =
of Business Economics, University of strathclyde, UK), Bart Nooteboom =
(Professor of Organization, Tilburg University, Netherlands), J C =
Spender (Visiting Professor, Open University Business School, UK)

Date for submission of full papers and abstracts: Friday 21st May 2004

The Conference Theme

The new knowledge economy is characterised by increasing complexity and =
uncertainty. The boundaries of organisations operating in this =
environment are subject to flux as firms seek to develop or acquire new =
competencies in order to survive and flourish. The very concept of 'the =
organisation' has become contestable: many business units have close and =
intense relationships with other business units, both within and outside =
'their firm', while many key staff clearly identify with several =
different types of organisation, particularly personal and professional =
networks.

In this turbulent landscape their currently exist several parallel, and =
we believe complementary, perspectives exploring the nature and scope of =
the firm. These include the transaction-cost economics or governance =
perspective, the resource-based or competence perspective, and the =
knowledge-based perspective. Because researchers working in these =
traditions rarely have the opportunity to engage in lively scholarly =
discourse, this workshop is designed to bring them together to explore =
the ways in which organisational boundaries are being displaced and =
redefined.  In particular the workshop will focus on the ways in which =
the search for new organisational capabilities and the introduction of =
new technologies result in increasing malleability of organisational =
boundaries within and between firms.



Call for Papers

Themes on which scholarly contributions are invited include:=20

=B7	A possible reconciliation of the governance (transaction-cost), =
competence (resource-based), and knowledge-based views of the firm with =
a particular emphasis on the inspiration of thinkers such as Edith =
Penrose, G. B. Richardson, Brian Loasby, and others
=B7	New perspectives on the growth of firms
=B7	Organisational boundaries, competencies and dynamic capabilities in =
complex, turbulent environments
=B7	The connection between the evolutionary, knowledge-based view of the =
firm and knowledge management
=B7	The impact of information and communication technologies on =
organisational boundaries
=B7	Networks and hybrid forms of organisation
=B7	Organising virtually and virtual organisations

Publication Opportunities

Papers submitted will be considered for publication in a special issue =
of Technology Analysis and Strategic Management.
=20

Instructions for Contributors

Authors are invited to submit contributions in one of the following =
categories:

1.	Refereed Paper Category

There is no word limit for papers submitted for refereeing but the =
papers should be of no more than 20 pages in length, including diagrams, =
figures and references. A cover page, giving the title of the paper; the =
author/s name/s, affiliations and addresses should be given (not =
included in the 20 pages). The cover page should include all the contact =
details of the corresponding author, who will be the first named author =
unless otherwise specified. Authors should not identify themselves, =
either directly or indirectly, in the text.

In addition the following format instructions should be observed:

a)	The paper should be typed double-spaced, preferably in 12 point Times =
New Roman font

b)	The first page of text should begin with the title only, followed by =
an abstract of no more than 200 words typed single-spaced.

c)	Citations should follow the Harvard referencing format

d)	Papers should be submitted as an attachment to the following e-mail =
address:

e)	Submissions should be made by Friday 21st May. Authors will be =
notified whether their papers have been accepted by the end of June.



2	Working Papers and Doctoral Paper category

Authors are requested to submit an extended abstract of between 750 and =
1500 words. Papers in these categories should be accompanied by a sheet =
that includes the contact details of the corresponding author, who will =
be the first named author unless otherwise specified. The cover page =
should not identify the author/s in the main text and should conform =
with instructions (a)-(e) above.

A note on poster sessions

Poster sessions are interactive in nature and are intended to provide =
the opportunity for interested attendees to discuss mutual interests in =
an informal atmosphere. Proposals not selected for paper presentations =
may be invited to present their work as posters.

Booking Forms

A booking form and details of accommodation and conference fees are =
available from Alexis Harding, Bristol Business School, University of =
the West of England, Frenchay, Bristol BS16 1QY. E-mail : =
alexis.harding@xxxxxxxxxx  Telephone: +44 (0) 117 328 2293
Given the limited number of places, you are advised to book early to =
avoid disappointment.

*********************************************************

2.	Call for Papers for "Economic Growth and Distribution--see the =
attachment

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3.	Worlshop on AlterGlobalizations

August 4 to 13, 2004, Center for Research & Learning
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

In service to global justice and anti-war movements, we call on social =
change scholars and activists to join us for a 10-day workshop on =
alternatives to corporate globalization.  We will also launch a research =
and learning center for progressives.  The program will focus on such =
topics as:

1. Globalization & the New Imperialism:  the state of neo-liberal =
globalization & struggles against it.  Empire or imperialism?  Racism or =
solidarity?  Forging new North-South relations.
2. Women World-wide:  effects of globalization on women and new =
strategies of resistance; feminism and indigenous women;  post-colonial =
theory and women's struggles.
3. Reclaiming the Commons:  stopping environmental ruin;  common goods & =
quality of life;  surplus value vs. human values;  radicalizing welfare; =
 reversing privatization;  the water crisis.
4. New Political Struggles:  Is there a global civil society?  struggles =
for democracy;  politicizing daily life;  global citizenship;  =
controlling militarism with international law.=20
5. Critique of Neo-liberalism:  culture of individualism;  =
nation-state's role;  theory of democracy;  rights (human, group, =
national);  new uses of anarchism, radical democracy, Marxism.
6. Solidarity Economies:  self-managed co-ops in Mondragon, Kerala, =
Mexico;  Brazil's peasants movement;  evaluation of Zapatistas;  Russian =
& Argentine factory seizures;  cross-border unions. =20
7. Social Movements: fair trade & anti-sweat shop movements; social =
currencies; communal forms of property; food sovereignty; market =
socialism; anti-capitalism in the US.

Proposals on these or related topics are due by March 15; send to Betsy =
Bowman <ebowman@xxxxxxx>.  Full, digitized  presentations due June 1, in =
English & Spanish if possible -- we hope for bi-lingualism. A Program =
Committee will e-mail selections to participants by July 1.  Brief =
discussion-starting summaries will replace reading of papers to =
facilitate problem-solving dialogue.  Some public talks may be required.

Since we hope for some convergence on further study, strategy and =
publishing, we urge full 10-day participation.  We'll start with =
movement activists' orientations and field trips, responding with =
theorizing.  Projected starting sessions:  World Social Forum, fair =
trade, and anti-NAFTA movement leaders; co-op organizers from Argentina, =
Russia, Mexico; leaders from Via Campesina & independent unions. To =
situate non-Mexicans in Mexico, a nation injured by globalization and =
early to resist it, historians will give a course in recent political & =
social history.

Participants may help set the research and learning center's mission, =
structure, financing and name.  It will foster North-South and =
South-South dialogue in serving today's progressive social movements.  =
For materials needed to help, contact Cliff DuRand =
<cdurand@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

San Miguel de Allende is in central Mexico, 4 hrs by bus north of Mexico =
City.  Leon (BJX), an international airport 1.5 hours away, is served by =
Continental, American, AeroMexico, and Delta.  We can help arrange =
transfers.  Come early and stay late.  San Miguel is a lovely, mile-high =
colonial town with a big arts community. August temps range from 25 C =
(78F) to 14 C (58F).

Lodging at Hotel Quinta Loreto is available at a special Workshop rate =
of $39US double, $35US single, if reserved by March 15.  Breakfast is =
$2-$6 and 1:30p comida (main meal of the day) is $7.40.  Less expensive =
places nearby include $8 dorm-type rooms. Referrals to other hotels & =
vacation rentals available.  Info, reservations, & referrals: Julie =
DuRand <qacres@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Pre-registration for 10-days or any part thereof: $200US ($100 low =
income). Student scholarships available. After July 15, add 10%. The =
Workshop will be self-financed to assure independence.  A sliding scale =
will allow student scholarships and a travel fund for invited activists. =


A better world can be built.  Let's start in August!  PRE-REGISTER NOW =
to ease planning.

Initiators: Betsy Bowman, Cliff DuRand, Ross Gandy, Kathy Russell, Bob =
Stone, Gabriel Vargas Lozano
_  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  =
_  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _
APPLICATION for participation in "Workshop on AlterGlobalizations," =
August 4-13, 2004

Name:						Phone:    		Email:

Home address:					Low income (under US$25K)?__  Student__ =20

Institutional affiliation:				Activist affiliation(s):

Main areas of interest: 				Dates of planned stay in San Miguel:

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4.	Call for Papers EAEPE 2004 Conference
Research Area I: Structural and Institutional Change In Eastern Europe

Following the discussion of the Special Session "Spontaneous and =
Deliberate Processes in Evolutionary Change during Transition" held last =
year in Maastricht I found it purposeful to confront the institutions =
that are emerging in different transition countries with their outcomes =
in the terms of  performance. I would thus propose the subject  of the =
Special Session in the Research Area in for the 2004 EAEPE Conference in =
Crete as:

Changing institutions and performance in transition countries

This subject covers different detailed matters that may be developed. =
First, the very notion of performance and efficiency should be discussed =
together with interference of the financial criteria typical for market =
economy with those partly inherited from the socialist past and partly =
belonging to the European standards: social protection, solidarity, =
cooperative culture, social capital. The impact of the conflict of =
values and interests between different social groups and the manner it =
is gradually solved in a changing institutional framework may be of =
interest as well.
The broad topic to be studied is the impact of different institutional =
structures on performance in different countries and in different =
domains. The problem of necessary adjustment of institutions to the =
socio-cultural framework itself subject to legacies of the past has been =
strongly underlined by the World Bank Annual Report of 2002. Thus the =
analyses on relevance of particular institutional structures and  of =
their adequacy to particular markets would be welcome.
Finally, the pressure of requirements of financial performance imposed =
by the market-oriented environment on the path of change and selection =
of institutions emerging in transition economies should be analyzed as =
well.
I invite all the EAEPE members interested in the problems described =
above to prepare their abstracts and to send them to John Finch: =
j.h.finch@xxxxxxxxxx  with a copy to me (lisso@xxxxxxxxxx) before 31 =
March 2004. For further information: http://www.eaepe.org.

Maria Lissowska
Research Area I Co-ordinator =20


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6.	Might heterodox economists be interested to hear news of an analysis =
of economic growth in which technology is the sole driver?=20

When technology is quantified, it turns out that it swamps labor and =
capital as inputs to GDP and can go on to explain GDP growth alone!

The macro- and micro- consequences of this surprising discovery are =
explored within Theoretical Technology. This intellectual toolbox comes =
from another world, that of technology practice or Management of =
Technology (MOT). If this interests anyone in the heterodox economics =
community, more can be found at the Technology Matters website as =
follows

http://www.techmatt.com