Call for Papers
In most countries the public sector has grown to replace the declining agriculture and industry sectors. The public sector is the largest relative to the size of the economies, total consumption and employment. In the recent three decades the public service sector has gone through a series of radical changes in the form of privatization and corporatization. This is a part of the large waves of privatization in Russia, China, India and some Latin American countries and the general waves of privatization in the areas of ICT, water and electric utilities, public transportation, education and health around the world. A comparison of the performance of the sub-sectors before and after the reforms is desired to be conducted for different services at different levels. The reforms have had strong implications for the welfare system, efficiency in provision of services, and the service providers. The reforms have had strong implications for the development and growth of the private service sector. However, little is known about the core objectives of the changes, namely improved efficiency in service provisions of the target services. This of course does not exclude evaluation of reforms in agriculture and manufacturing sectors, as well as other areas such as development aid and sustainable growth and development. Given the comprehensive service sector reforms and the necessity to evaluate their outcomes, this conference will help in filling the existing evaluation gap effectively.
Jönköping International Business School invites submissions of completed but unpublished papers that focus on an evaluation of the effects of privatization and corporatization on the performance of the service sector in developed, emerging and developing countries. Theoretical, methodological and empirical research and policy or practice oriented papers are welcome provided that they are based on a sound conceptual foundation with a well-thought out method.
Applied and practice oriented manuscripts can focus on groups of countries or individual economies, the service sector or public and private services. Priority will be given to service sector studies, but papers on manufacturing and agriculture sectors are also welcome, provided they discuss the implications of the research findings for the service sector.
Submission of complete papers are made online at: http://www.ju.se/servicesectorconference/ before 15 May 2016. Please provide abstract of less than 200 words, a minimum of 3 keywords, affiliation and e-mail address details on the cover page. Additional information is found at the conference website: http://www.ju.se/servicesectorconference/
A selection of high quality papers presented at the conference will be considered for publication in special issue(s) of leading academic journal(s) in relevant fields and edited book volume(s) published by Springer book series. The following conference fees are applied: Academics 3,500 SEK (approximately €350), PhD students 2,500 SEK (approximately €250), Non-Academics 4,500 SEK (approximately €450). Participants are expected to cover their travelling and accommodation expenses. For information about travelling, accommodation and registration please visit http://www.ju.se/servicesectorconference/
Invited Speakers:
Giannis Karagiannis, Macedonia University, Greece
Subal C. Kumbhakar, University of Binghamton, USA
Timo Kuosmanen, Aalto University, Finland
John Whalley, Western University, Canada
Deadlines:
Submission of full papers (preferably 6,000-10,000 words, typed, singe spaced in Times New Roman, 12 points with a 3 cm margin all around, in PDF format): 15 May 2016
Decision on submission: 30 May 2016
Deadline for registration: 20 June 2016
Conference days: 11-12 August 2016
Submission of revised papers for publication: 30 September 2016
Organizing Committee:
Almas Heshmati, Jönköping International Business School, Jönköping University (Chair).
Mikaela Backman, Jönköping International Business School, Jönköping University.
Johan Klaesson, Jönköping International Business School, Jönköping University.
Johan Eklund, Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum, Stockholm.
Andre Petzold, Destination Jönköping, Jönköping City.
Linda Bergqvist, Jönköping University.