Better Research, Better Policy, Better Reform
Call for Papers
CESD Conference
on
“Evaluation and Modelling of Comparative Advantages in non-oil sector in Azerbaijan”
October, 24, 2013, Baku, Azerbaijan
Organizers:Center Economic and Social Development (CESD) and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Project is implemented with support of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Deadline for submitting abstracts: September 20, 2013.
Working languages of the conference: English and Azerbaijani, with simultaneous translation between them
Scope of the Conference (Project Description)
Non-oil sector is one of the two main parts of the economy of Azerbaijan. At the beginning of 1990s the non-oil sector weighted much more than now, in 1993-2009 the oil sector has become the major field and occupied the biggest part ofproduction and export. The drop of oil prices from 100 USD to 36 USD, but at the same time increase of economy by 9.2 % in 2009 made the government think again about economy diversification. Last years’ statistics showed that the division of the economy was about 52% and 48% on non-oil and oil sectors accordingly. Moreover oil sector revenues for last years have gone way too far in comparison with non-oil sector. It is making almost 50% of country’s GDP and 75% of national budget. Mineral fuel, oil and oil products consisted of 93.2% of all export of Azerbaijan in 2012.
According to it, if Azerbaijan doesn’t switch to non-oil sector, then in any price shock of oil, if price of the oil gets down too quickly and for long lasting period or natural mineral resources depletes, and then Azerbaijan will face with Dutch disease. That’s why diversification of the economy is very essential for future development and sustainability of Azerbaijan economy. That means, investing the current oil and gas revenues in economic assets such as infrastructure, production facilities, housing, education, health, and ‘soft infrastructure’ such as administrative and legal practices etc., which will enable the country to compete internationally and generate a future income.
Participants
Scholars from Azerbaijan will be invited to attend the conference. Although most participants will be invited, applications will also be invited on a specific format through the CESD from other scholars who may be interested.A Totalof50 participants are planned to be gathered in this conference
Expected impacts of the conference
Holding of the conference on diversification of the economy in Baku, Azerbaijan is primarily aimed to put diversification and international diversification modelsinto the agenda. First, the aim is to urge Azerbaijani government to take these issues into serious consideration and include them in the policy perspective as outlined in “Azerbaijan 2020: Look into the Future”.
Second, the conference will support contacts between researches, dissemination and articulation of diversification issues and in turn establish network of development researchers, practitioners and policy makers, especially from other developing countries.
Third, public opinion will be attracted to issues of diversification of the economy, and its implications to the growth.
Fourth, in an effort to make available results and proceedings of the conference to the government, academicians and civil society, invited papers and other discussions will be publishedin a printed format as the result of the conference and publicized widely through the printed and electronic mediums.
Finally, the conference will seek to articulate tools and ways to be used in macro-economic policy by developing countries.
Call for Papers
Abstracts are due to September 20, 2013. Please send your abstract maximum of one page (Font faceCalibri; Font size: 11, Line spacing: single spaced) abstract and your CV to the attention of Rafiga Hamzayeva at d Narmin Ibrahimova at .