Over the past decades, the gap between rich and poor has widened in most advanced economies. In emerging countries, economic growth has helped to reduce sharply the prevalence of poverty, but at the same time high levels of inequality have risen further.

Today, the economic crisis has put additional pressure on the distribution of economic resources. Inequality-related issues have reached the middle class in many parts of the world, where middle-income groups are shrinking fuelled by rising unemployment, weakening job quality and workers dropping out of the labour market and the social fabric is starting to strain.

In front of this disturbing picture of high and widening disparities around the world, the Conference aims at providing a platform for discussion between researchers (young and established) and practitioners on the complex network of factors behind the growing gap between rich and poor. Empirical and methodological contributions on what caused and what has been the impact of such inequalities and what can be done about that are particularly welcomed. Other themes that are typical to the Association, including all areas of comparative economics and related disciplines treated in a comparative perspective, will also be considered.

Important dates

Deadline for submission of contribution (extended abstract, max. 6 pages): APRIL 30, 2014

Notification of acceptance: MAY 15, 2014

Deadline for registration: JUNE 10, 2014

Registration

Those wishing to submit a contribution to the Conference should fill out the registration form in all its parts and send it by e-mail to the Local Organizing Committee: aissec2011@unimc.it

The Conference fee is € 25 for junior participants (up to 35 years old) and € 50 for all the others, while participation is free of charge (but registration is required) for Ph.D. students. The fees include the biennial membership of AISSEC and covers admission to all sessions and Conference materials. The fees do not include accommodation, daytime lunches and refreshments. In order to be included in the programme, registration fees of at least one of the Authors of accepted papers should be paid before 31 May 2014.

The conference fees can be paid by bank transfer to the following bank (please put first and last name and AISSEC Conference 2014 in the bank transfer title):

Bank Name:

BANCA DELLA PROVINCIA DI MACERATA SPA

Account Holder:

ASSOCIAZIONE ITALIANA PER LO STUDIO DEI SISTEMI ECONOMICI COMPARATI

IBAN:

IT33X0331713401000010102276

BIC/SWIFT:

PRACIT31

Venue

On the first day (Thursday 26 June 2014) the Conference will be held in Aula Abside, located on the first floor of Piazza Strambi 1, whereas on the next day (Friday 27 June 2014) it will be held in Aula Verde of "Polo Didattico Pantaleoni" (second floor), located in Via Pescheria Vecchia see aerial map below for locations.

Travel information

Click here for information on how to reach Macerata.

Accomodation

Here is a list of hotels near Polo Didattico Pantaleoni (Conference venue):

• Hotel Arcadia (http://www.arcadiahotelmacerata.it/it/)
• Albergo Arena (http://www.albergoarena.com/)
• Hotel Claudiani (http://www.hotelclaudiani.it/)
• Albergo Da Rosa
• Hotel Lauri (http://www.hotellauri.it/it/)

All the hotels listed are located in the centre of Macerata, within a 10-15 minutes walking distance from the Conference venue.

Participants should make their own hotel reservations directly with the hotel of their choice. Please refer to hotels web sites to have information on room rates, availability and booking.

Conference participants are strongly recommended to make their booking as soon as possible in order to guarantee themselves accommodation.

Programme

Download the Conference programme here.

AISSEC Awards for Young Scholars

During the Scientific Conference the Association will assign awards to the best doctoral or degree dissertations in the fields of comparative economics. The 2014 AISSEC Awards Call is available for download here.