2008 DARE GRADUATE SCHOOL
in
ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE, DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY

Overview

The annual DARE Graduate School in Economic Governance, Development and Public Policy will be held at the Åbo Akademi University, Department of Economics and Statistics, Turku, Finland. It will take place from 15th - 21st September 2008. 

The School is co-ordinated and organised by DARE (Democratic Communities in Academic Research on Economic Development), a community of international faculty focused on enhancing theoretical and policy understanding around democratic economic development.  The School has a ten year history, having evolved from the L’institute-Ferrara Graduate School, which took place in Ferrara, Italy from 1998 to 2005.  Its location now moves each year to be hosted by alumni of previous schools.  In 2006 it was held in Bath, UK, and in 2007 in Reus, Spain.

A particular aim of the School is to contribute to the evolution of a multinational network of people thinking about, analysing and researching into economic governance, development and public policy.  To this end, the 2008 School will bring together 16 participants from a variety of countries and research backgrounds to engage in a co-operative learning process with internationally-renowned researchers and practitioners.  An aim is that many of those involved will keep in contact with the new friends and colleagues that they have made, interacting at conferences, workshops and schools, and contributing to the ongoing evolution of DARE.

School Content 

The School will start with analysis of theoretical foundations for industrial development policy that is rooted in a strategic choice approach to governance, economic organisation and development.  These foundations will then be explored in a series of applications focussed on strategic failure, enterprise governance in different types of firms and organisations, foreign direct investment, and experiences from Europe (in particular UK and the Nordic countries), Asia and Latin America.  Throughout the School the specific topics focussed upon will include:

• Economic development (of regions and nations) based on localities
• Networking within and across countries
• Multinationalism and transnationalism
• The role of smaller firms and of large firms, including transnational corporations and state enterprises
• Clustering of firms
• Economic (political and social) democracy in the determination of production strategy
  

To conclude the School, participants will join a one-day Research Workshop on Industrial Development Policy.  This will bring together participants from around the world, including alumni of previous Schools, to analyse and discuss issues of public policy and the development of economies.  Participants at the School who are relatively advanced in their research may have the opportunity to present their work at the workshop.

School Format

The focus of the School is very much on exchange of ideas and experiences in a process of co-operative learning.  It will therefore include significant time dedicated to participant interaction around particular issues.  The idea is for issues to be pursued in line with participants’ own research interests, while learning from and integrating the perspectives and experiences of others.  The activities at the School are all designed to foster multinational networking amongst young and established researchers, and to encourage working relationships that will be of benefit long into the future.  To facilitate this, the School aims to provide social space for interaction as part of the learning environment.

The structure of each day of the School will be flexible and will vary depending on teaching styles and requirements.  Typically, the sessions will include presentations by faculty of material on particular issues, and these presentations will be integrated with reading, group discussion, and interaction in the form of ‘co-operative learning workshops’. 

Indeed, an important aspect of the School is that participants will work together to develop their ideas and apply their own experiences to an Ongoing Case, a consideration of the prospects for economic development in a particular situation.  The subject of the Ongoing Case and background reading will be identified prior to the School.  Participants will be encouraged to focus issues and questions arising from each day’s analysis on the Ongoing Case, and there will be an opportunity to present their analysis to faculty.

Faculty

Faculty at the School are likely to include:

• Jan Otto Andersson, Åbo Akademi University
• Keith Cowling (University of Warwick, UK)
• Sonja Grönblom (Åbo Akademi University, Finland)
• Markus Jäntti, Åbo Akademi University
• Davide Parrilli (University of Birmingham, UK)
• Silvia Sacchetti (University of Birmingham, UK)
• Roger Sugden (University of Birmingham, UK)
• Phil Tomlinson. University of Bath
• Johan Willner (Åbo Akademi University, Finland)

Admission Requirements

Due to its international nature, the School will be held in English.  As the School features an interactive learning process, participants will need a solid grasp of that language.  Selection will be based on academic ability, bearing in mind the aim of drawing together participants from various countries and with varied experiences and interests.  Those applying to take part in the School must normally be registered for a Masters or PhD degree in economics or a related discipline, or be engaged in research activity at an equivalent level in a policy agency.  Participants completing the School will be awarded a certificate from DARE.

Financial Information

• There are a significant number of scholarships available to cover participants’ tuition fees.  The tuition fee for the 2008 School is €600.  Participants will need to indicate on the application form if they require a tuition scholarship, or if there is an institution that will sponsor their participation by covering their tuition fees.
• As part of the co-operative learning environment, all participants will stay at the same self-catering accommodation facility in Åbo/Turku.  All participants will be required to contribute to the costs of our providing this accommodation, alongside basic administration of the School; this will be €200 per person.  Unfortunately, we are unable to offer scholarships to cover this fee. 
• Potential participants should also note that they will be required to arrange and fund their own travel, travel insurance and subsistence.

Application Procedure

For an application for the School, please contact Marcela Valania at  m.m.valania@bham.ac.uk.  The deadline for applications is Friday 30th May 2008.