Call for Papers

Young Economists Conference 2018 – Welfare state under attack

/ 20. März 2018

The financial crisis after 2009 caused a massive economic downturn. After initial expansive fiscal effects of the government support for banks, the fiscal stance soon turned to austerity and cutting back of public expenditures. Stagnation, which lasted a decade in the Eurozone, led to massive unemployment, especially in the periphery. Moreover, taxation continues to race to the bottom and financialization of the economy advanced further. The economic turmoil has precipitated the rise of right-wing populism, which in some European countries might be endangering the democratic system. These and other factors put the welfare state under enormous pressure and the legitimate role of the welfare state today is in question. Who is dependent on a strong welfare state? What are the functions of the welfare state and do they have to be extended or cut back? Are we in need of a modernization of the welfare system? Who is benefiting from a weakened welfare state? Can the welfare state reduce threats to the democratic order? These and other related questions are highly relevant for the near future.

  • Datum: 08.10.2018 - 09.10.2018
  • Zeit: 09:00-19:00 Uhr (an beiden Tagen)
  • Veranstalter: Kammer für Arbeiter und Angestellte für Wien, Gesellschaft für Plurale Ökonomik
  • Ort: AK Wien Bürogebäude, Vortragssaal, 6. Stock
  • Adresse: Plößlgasse 2, 1040 Wien
  • Email: Submission of abstracts and further information: daniela.paraskevaidis@akwien.at
  • Teilnahmegebühr: freier Eintritt

For this reason, the Chamber of Labour Vienna and the Society for Pluralism in Economics Vienna host a conference on October 8th and 9th 2018, for which researchers at the beginning of their career (Master, pre- or post-doc) are invited to attend. We particularly invite contributions to a special session on Marxist thought, which will be held to commemorate Marx’ 200th anniversary. Female researchers are strongly encouraged to present and participate in the conference. This year’s invited keynote speakers are:

  • Silke van Dyk is Professor of Political Sociology at the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena specializing in political sociology, sociology of the welfare state and social policy, and sociology of demographics.
  • Arne Heise, Professor of Economics at the University of Hamburg, is an expert on macroeconomics, economic policy, public governance and European integration.

The deadline for abstracts (max. 1 page) is the 31st of May, 2018. The workshop language is English. Participants will be notified of acceptance by mid-June. The deadline for the (working) papers is the 8th of September. The conference is free of charge. Presenting participants will be reimbursed for train travel cost within Austria, and may apply for accommodation subsidies. An outstanding contribution by presenters in the young economists sessions will be awarded the Eduard März Prize of € 1,000.