The next
Asia and Pacific Economic and Business History (APEBH) Conference, sponsored by the
Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand (EHSANZ), will be held February 16-18, 2012, in Canberra at the Australian National University (ANU). The theme is "Economic Integration: Historical Perspectives from Europe and the Asia-Pacific Region," though proposals on other topics will be considered. "Researchers across a broad range of disciplines are warmly welcomed. Early career researchers are encouraged to participate. The conference organizers are particularly interested in attracting papers that examine developments in countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific region and papers that provide an international comparative perspective." The call for papers further states:
. . . throughout history, processes of economic integration of factor and product markets occurred through both informal and formal processes. They occurred across regions within countries as transport facilities improved. They occurred across the borders of neighbouring countries as bilateral trade barriers were reduced, and in regions of the world due to multilateral initiatives. Formal agreements were not necessarily a prerequisite for economic integration. Private enterprises often took international business initiatives, despite the continued existence of barriers to international trade and investment. . . . What lessons can be drawn from comparative historical perspectives on processes of economic integration? How were such processes taken from one level to the next, how were issues of differential regulation dealt with, how did private
enterprises seize new business opportunities and influence the process of integration, and what consequences did cross-border integration have for markets and societies? Lastly, integration has rarely been a linear process, but one of leaps and bounds. What can we learn from cases when integration processes rebounded?
For the full call for papers, instructions for submitting proposals, and information about ANU, please see the
APEBH website. The deadline for submitting proposals is
November 30, 2011.
