Balancing Resilience and Sustainability
Monmouth University and LUM University “Giuseppe Degennaro” invite submissions for the second conference on Regional Sustainable Economic Development Around the Globe, on Jan. 15–16, 2027, in Casamassima (Bari), Italy. The conference is co-organized by the Joint Research Center of the European Commission, the Institute of Global Business and Society at TH Köln, and CED (Center for Economic Development & Social Change).
Regions, cities, and rural areas around the globe are often more directly impacted than nations by global mega shifts, such as climate change, digitalization, migration, (de-)globalization and geopolitical disruptions. Their resilience plays a key role in responding to these global challenges. Following up on the first conference in 2025, the current edition focuses on policies and strategies for improving resilience at the regional level without compromising long-term sustainability. The conference aims to bring together academics, policymakers, and industry representatives to discuss these challenges and to learn from each other.
Topics include, but are not necessarily limited to:
- climate risks, climate change and the impact on the regional economy
- regional economic and environmental policies, strategies, and management
- green transition, resilience, and inclusiveness
- climate change, migration, and the regional economy
- green finance, insurance of climate risks
- micro, small, and medium-sized local businesses and the challenges of climate risks
- sustainability and challenges of demographic shifts
Studies can be on regions from advanced, emerging, or developing economies.
Special Issues
Presented papers get the opportunity to be submitted in a fast-track revision process to
- International Economics and Economic Policy (Springer). Guest editors: Tjeerd Boonman, Andrea Gatto, and Harald Sander.
- Additional special issues will be announced soon.
Format
The in-person conference will be held at LUM University, Casamassima, Italy, on Friday, Jan. 15, and Saturday, Jan. 16.
Keynote speaker TBC.
There is NO opportunity to present online.
Timeline
Submission and registration for the conference
- Submission deadline: Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EST
- Acceptance notification: Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026
- Registration deadline: Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2026
Final program available by Friday, Jan. 8, 2027
Conference: Friday, Jan. 15, 2027, and Saturday, Jan. 16, 2027
Submission Details
- You can submit more than one paper, but only one paper can be presented by one person.
- Papers have to be submitted in PDF format
- Papers should be without author names and affiliations for blind peer review
- Separate title page with names and affiliations of the author(s)
Doubts: tboonman@monmouth.edu; agatto@kean.edu; harald.sander@th-koeln.de; magazzino@lum.it
Participation Fee and Submission Requirements
- There are no submission or registration fees for the conference. We will only consider fully-fledged papers; abstracts will not be considered. All potential presenters will be required to discuss another paper and upload their slide deck prior to the registration date to be considered.
- There is no funding for travel costs for participants.
Organizing Committee
- Cosimo Magazzino (LUM University, Italy)
- Tjeerd Boonman (Monmouth University, United States)
- Andrea Gatto (Wenzhou Kean University, China, and CED, Italy)
- Harald Sander (Institute of Global Business and Society, TH Köln, Germany, and Maastricht University, Netherlands)
- Caterina Rho (Joint Research Center of the European Commission)
Advisory Board
- Joscha Beckmann (FernUniversitaet Hagen, Germany, and Kiel Institute for the World Economy)
- Seyed Alireza Athari (USEK)
- Serafin Martinez-Jaramillo (World Bank)
- Xuebing Yang (Pennsylvania State University at Altoona, United States)