Sustainability, Water and Territory : Regional Strategies for the Challenges of the 21st Century

Special sessions

SS1. Innovation, knowledge and corporate social responsibility in order to improve regional competitiveness and sustainability

Coordinator: Antonio Juan Briones Peñalver (aj.briones@upct.es)

Territories and regions address different measures on a public basis, with the support of private entities that impact territorial sustainability through innovation strategies, more knowledge of the productive environment and corporate social responsibility (CSR) measures. In this case, the agents involved and the entities and institutions with which they relate have the challenge of improving the socioeconomic environment and the well-being of citizens in a context of transition and globalization with other bordering or diverse territories.

This session aims to publicize those works on the governance of entities, institutions and companies that positively impact regional competitiveness and can constitute good practices for the sustainability of regional well-being indices of citizens and territorial wealth. . With a holistic innovation approach “or strategic, technological, total, open and collaborative”; knowledge of natural, human and social capital, as well as the integration of responsibility (CSR) and sustainability strategies, the latest regional policies can be incorporated. In a triple, quadruple or quintuple helix paradigm, the design of innovation policies, improvement of knowledge and CSR measures will constitute a wide range of possibilities for work towards the sustainable development of the regions, serve as an engine for economic development, achieve desirable demographic growth, improvement of competitiveness and its productive fabric.

Bibliographic citation

Briones Peñalver, A. J. (Coord.). Territorial Sustainability and CSR Actions as a regional strategy to promote the Blue Economy. Cartagena: Polytechnic University of Cartagena, 2024. 135 p. ISBN: 978-84-17853-77-8

Biographical quote

– Antonio Juan Briones-Peñalver, is currently director of the Chair of Corporate Social Responsibility and Circular Economy at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena; and Researcher responsible for the Organizational and Commercial Strategies of Companies group. Associate Professor in the area of Business Organization in the Department of Business Economics, Faculty of Business Sciences (UPCT).

SS2. Environmental impact of global value chains reconfiguration and emerging trends in international trade

Coordinators: M. Ángeles Cadarso and Jorge Zafrilla – Department of Economic Analysis and Finance, Faculty of Economics and Business Science, University of Castilla-La Mancha

Theme/objectives of the session:

Political instability, trade protectionism, and the pandemic, among others, provoke disruptions in international trade that reveal the vulnerability of global value chains and countries and have accelerated new trends in international trade and global value chains reconfiguration looking for resilience. Reshoring, backshoring, friendshoring, greenshoring are terms increasingly used to name these new trends. These evolutions will impact the environment at several levels, depending on economies’ production specialization, trade dependency and technology adoption. The quantification and evaluation of these environmental impacts, in terms of changes in carbon emissions, business practices and diffusion of environmentally friendly production strategies, including the role of MNEs are crucial to assess the resilience of the economies and to inform policy makers to increase synergies between the resilience goal and others like the fight against climate change.

SS3. Input-output models in regional analysis. Theory and applications

Coordinator: Carmen Ramos

Input-output analysis is a methodology usually applied in economic studies given its undeniable potential both at a theoretical level, in the construction and development of new models, and applied, by enabling the resolution of practical problems.

The expansion of this methodology is undeniable, allowing increasingly complex conceptualizations, among which we can point out the construction of social accounting matrices or the approach of computable general equilibrium models. Furthermore, the consideration of multiple input-output tables that relate not only sectors but also more or less extensive territories, allows the creation of multi-regional models and, therefore, the study of spaces as interrelated and not isolated entities.

On the other hand, and from a more applied perspective, we can refer to the extension of the input-output methodology to the study of problems related to energy, the environment or the impacts of natural disasters or pandemics on territories.

This session aims to be a forum for discussion and reflection on the latest research (theoretical or applied) in input-output analysis, as well as to be the seed of new research in this field.

SS4. Rural depopulation and territorial transformation: interdisciplinary strategies and solutions from local innovation

Coordinators: Jaime de Pablo Valenciano and Francisco Javier García Corral

Summary:

Rural depopulation is a phenomenon that affects numerous municipalities in our country. From this special session we propose to analyze it together with the territorial transformation that emerges from a multidisciplinary perspective that will integrate local innovation approaches to provide a complete understanding of the problem. The influence of globalization on local systems will be addressed, the interrelation of competition and complementarity that arises between different municipalities, as well as the need for territories to form networks of synergies in response to the freedom of development in which they see themselves competing. against big cities.

It is therefore proposed to explore and show strategies or projects to attract investment, residence, employment and leisure to rural municipalities, including, for example, the improvement of accessibility infrastructure, training in human resources, the promotion of R&D and technological diffusion, or the capture of productive private investment.

This, at all times, remembering that for correct local development the importance of the participation and commitment of local social agents in the definition of their strategies must be highlighted. This should be seen in a projectual way, highlighting the need for consensus among them to legitimize the actions that are carried out.

This teaches us that we must promote collaborative projects between small rural municipalities, taking advantage of the links to overcome common challenges, and highlighting the advantages of each town along the way. Therefore, economic and social agents are pillars that will maintain the different sectors, promoting diversification and adaptation to new trends.

Knowing the elements that differentiate each one, along with the involvement and affection for “what is one’s own” will be the idea of any promotion. With this, the objective of this session aims to foster a uniquely enriching and productive debate of “what each person has distinctively” showing both the importance of rural depopulation, as well as possible effective solutions to this persistent challenge.

SS5. The new demographic dynamics in the rural world. Imaginaries, community strategies and challenges

Organizers: Antonio Martínez Puche, University of Alicante and AVANT Chair (anti-depopulation), J. Serafí Bernat, Universitat Jaume I and Local Development Institute and Vicente Budí, Universitat Jaume I and Territorial Cohesion and Innovation Chair

Summary:

On January 1, 2023 in Spain, 61.2% of the municipalities had less than 1,000 inhabitants, and 3% of those registered resided there. 9.1% of the municipalities had more than 10,000 inhabitants, and 80% of those registered resided there. These data show the depth of the territorial imbalances.

On the other hand, the historical process of population reduction in smaller towns is experiencing significant changes, both in its quantitative aspect, as well as in the causes that generate them and in the consequences in social, cultural and political terms. Furthermore, the fall in fertility, aging and the increase in migratory movements are phenomena in which both the countryside and the city participate.

The increase in mobility, the productive reorganization of territories, the new values linked to nature and sustainability are diluting the borders between rural and urban, inviting a reformulation of both concepts. This is also generating renewed imaginaries that use the rural world for creation (literature and cinema) as a support for stories and stories that also project an updated image of the rural world. Without forgetting the participatory local development strategies that are used as diagnostic and project management tools that connect with the real needs of rural communities in the context of the current seven-year period of the LEADER Community Initiative.

This special session is presented as a forum for research proposals that contribute to explaining these recent changes, from the different methodological approaches and disciplines that have the rural environment as their object of study, placing special emphasis on the use of sources that have hitherto been little used or non-existent, which address aspects hitherto neglected in the analysis of depopulation that range from statistical sources, EDLP (Participatory Local Development Strategies), more qualitative analysis supports, communication, analysis of audiovisual fiction, etc.

SS6. Efficiency and sustainability as challenges for water resources management

Coordinator: Vicent Hernández Chover

Water resources management is a global challenge that requires a comprehensive and sustainable approach. Water is a vital resource for human life, agriculture, industry and ecosystem conservation. However, its availability and quality are threatened by factors such as pollution, overexploitation, and climate change. In this sense, the alteration of climate patterns is affecting water distribution, with some regions facing severe droughts, while others suffer from floods. These aspects, among others, make it necessary to optimize resource management from a holistic perspective that includes aspects such as supply and demand of the resource, control of its quality according to possible uses, management of infrastructures and assets, as well as policies aimed at encouraging regeneration and subsequent reuse of the resource.

This session will focus on the critical challenges we face in managing our resources and how we can address them in an efficient and sustainable manner. It represents an opportunity to share knowledge, experiences and innovative solutions in the field of sustainability and resource management.

SS7. Exploring the New Frontiers of Work: Spatial Dynamics, Policies, and Socio-Economic Implications

Coordinators: Carles Méndez-Ortega, Open University of Catalonia (cmendezor@uoc.edu) y Oliver Rafaj, University of Economics in Bratislava (oliver.rafaj@euba.sk)

In recent years, workspaces have undergone significant transformation, moving towards hybrid models blending remote setups with revamped physical offices. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend, fostering home offices and collaborative environments. Prior to the pandemic, alternative workspaces like coworking spaces surged, alongside digital nomadism and ‘workations’. However, these changes vary across regions, with suburban, rural, and tourist areas gaining importance in attracting talent. Rural coworking is emerging as a research focus, offering insights into collaborative work dynamics outside urban settings, potentially revitalizing local economies. This Special Session gathers research on evolving workplace spatial dynamics, policy impacts, and socio-economic consequences. By examining these trends, the session aims to illuminate the intricate relationship between workspaces, policies, and societal outcomes.

SS8. Geography of innovation for sustainable economies and societies

Organizers: François Perruchas, Universitat de Valencia and Davide Consoli, INGENIO [CSIC- Universitat Politècnica de València]

Since the late 20th century, growing concerns over climate change and biodiversity loss have spurred international action. The 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) initiated a series of agreements aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas levels. The pinnacle of these efforts is the 2015 Paris Agreement, signed by 196 countries, which aims to limit global temperature rise to below 2ºC above pre-industrial levels. While relying solely on technological solutions for these crises is unrealistic, all strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of human activities on the environment depend on the development and dissemination of “green” or “clean” innovations.

Given the premise that climate change exhibits global implications while manifesting uniquely at the local level, and recognizing the considerable variation among regions and countries in their exposure to climate events and capacity to respond, a segment of innovation studies focuses on exploring these dynamics in resource utilization, policy implementation and impact, and the ability to foster sustainable innovations.

This special session intends to showcase research concerning the geographical aspects of environmental economics, focusing on but not restricted to resource utilization for green innovations, the capacity of regions to foster and adopt these innovations, the involvement of diverse stakeholders, policy implications for facilitating their dissemination, and any studies that shed a light on methods and outcomes of reducing the environmental impact of human activities.

SS9. The Impact of Festivals on Local and Regional Development

Organizers: Rafael Garduño Rivera (Universidad de Navarra, Spain), Neil Reid (University of Toledo, USA) and Haoying Wang (New Mexico Tech, USA)

The origins of festivals lie in the depths of antiquity. As events, festivals are closely connected with the development of human culture. The earliest festivals were those events connected with seasonal occasions such as sowing and harvesting (Cudny, 2014; Davies, 2015). More advanced festivals, containing elements of higher culture or art, took place in ancient Greece, often connected with celebrations associated with Greek gods. These festivals invariably included feasts, singing songs, reciting poems, theatre performances, and competitions (e.g., for the best piece of literary art). In Asia, religious festivals were commonplace in the Early Middle Ages (Cudny, 2016). In contemporary societies, festivals are commonplace and vary considerably in their focus and purpose. Some festivals have been running for centuries, while others are just a few decades old.

For example, since 1591, Pamplona, Spain, has celebrated the Festival of San Fermin. It is a celebration that combines two medieval events: 1) commercial secular fairs within the cattle-raising industry (which derived into the bullfighting and bull-running traditions) and 2) religious ceremonies honoring the saint. Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, described as the “world’s largest folk festival,” dates to 1810 (Oktoberfest Magazine No Date). The San Marcos National Fair (FNSM by its acronym in Spanish) in Aguascalientes, Mexico, started in 1828, is recognized as one of Mexico’s oldest and most important fairs, which provides a significant spillover effect to the State´s economy. In contrast, the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival has existed since 1991. In the Internet age, festivals’ market, and trade aspects, such as Amazon’s Great Indian Festival and Alibaba’s 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, have been highlighted and promoted.

A festival can be defined as a “themed public celebration” (Getz, 2005, p. 21), while Cundy (2014, 653) defines it as “an organized socio-spatial phenomenon that is taking place at a designated time – outside the everyday routine – increasing the overall volume of social capital and celebrating selected elements of tangible and intangible culture.” All these elements and activities could have socio-economic impacts outside the designated timeframe.

This special session aims to explore festivals from the perspective of Regional Science. Possible topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

the socio-economic impact of festivals
festivals as a tourism generator
festivals and urban regeneration
festivals and place-image, place-branding, and place-making
the norms, culture, and institutions of festival traditions
festivals and the experience economy
festivals and negative externalities (e.g., environmental impacts)
modern festivals in the cyberspace

SS10. Machine Learning algorithms and classic Spatial Econometrics methods

Organizers: Fernando A López, MLuz Maté and Manuel Ruiz

Data-based decision making, through the use of machine learning algorithms, is one of the trends that is showing the strongest impact in practically all areas of knowledge. This trend is being increased by the enormous availability of massive data, and it is expected that the use of these algorithms will be an essential practice in all fields of Science, at least for the next few years.

Many of the big data sets are defined at the micro level, including the exact location of the observed individual/item. About 80% of all data has a geographic dimension, and much of this is georeferenced. This high availability of large georeferenced databases together with the promotion of Machine Learning algorithms are a relevant part of the new trend in research areas that has been called in its broadest spectrum as ‘Geospatial Artificial Intelligence’. While, in many research areas, the use of data-driven learning techniques has become a standard, this is still an emerging field in the field of Regional Science. This perspective opens new horizons for studies in Regional Science, Geographic Economics and Spatial Econometrics.

SS11. Growth Accounting in Regions: Understanding the Past, Forecasting the Future

Coordinators: Daniel Aparicio-Pérez y Emili Tortosa-Ausina

This session will delve into how growth accounting can be effectively utilized to understand historical economic patterns and project future regional developments. It will explore the methodologies that allow economists and policymakers to analyze past growth determinants and use this understanding to make informed long-term economic forecasts. By focusing on both retrospective and predictive aspects, this session aims to bridge the gap between historical economic conditions and future opportunities for regional development.

Session Objectives

Historical Analysis: To investigate how growth accounting has been used to analyze historical economic data and trends at the regional level.
Future Forecasting: To explore how these historical insights can be used to make robust forecasts about regional economic conditions.
Methodological Innovations: To discuss advancements in growth accounting that enhance its accuracy both as a retrospective tool and a predictive model.

SS12. Regional Economic Aspects of the Silver Population: an essential asset to society

Coordinators: María Galarza Heras (Universidad de Navarra, Spain) y Rafael Garduño Rivera (Universidad de Navarra, Spain)

The silver population has grown dramatically during the last few years. United Nations (2023) mentions that the number of people 65 years and older is predicted to double by 2050, going from 761 million to 1.6 billion. Statista (2023) shows that the aging population has grown drastically in 2023, mainly in places like Europe and Asia, particularly in countries such as Monaco (36%), Japan (29%), and Bulgaria (24%). Spain (20%) placed 22 countries with the most aging populations. However, few countries have taken advantage of their knowledge and talents (Kuzmina, 2017).

The aging process is a natural progression that every human experiences as we age. However, not all the countries and regions within them experience similar situations. Some places have a young population pyramid and could absorb their small aging segment. Some other places are prepared with all the budget and infrastructure necessary to attend this group as they get older and require more special attention. However, most regions (and countries) are unprepared for this situation. Places like Spain & Japan are starting to experience a change in their population pyramid, where most of their population is getting old, and there is no new population to occupy their places in the economy. Other countries, such as the Philippines, which experienced a considerable brain drain, leave their elderly population back home with no one to take care of them. There are also regions, such as Florida, that have taken advantage of this market and attract many of America´s silver population due to Florida´s excellent amenities such as nice weather, large coastal areas, and lower cost of living, compared to LA, New York, or Chicago (Newbold, 2015). Other international idyllic places such as San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, compete with Florida for the North American silver market. In Europe, something similar happened (Klimczuk, 2016). Places like southern Spain (i.e., Málaga) attract many European and Asian retirees.

This Special Session tries to understand the growing silver economy and the multiple cases around the world, analyzing the regional economic role of the private and public sectors. What investment is necessary for this increasing sector, and how should companies and governments prepare for this nascent aging economy?

This Special Session aims to explore the Regional Economic aspects of the aging population. Some of the topics we consider important, but are not limited to, are the following:

The socioeconomic impact of the Silver Economy in a region
The importance of migration (especially in the health sector) for the Silver Economy
The importance of centripetal forces to generate a Silver Economy
Generational change in SME businesses
What factors every region should consider in coping with the growing aging population?

Keywords: Economics of the Elderly, Europe, Social Innovation, Social and Economic Stratification

J.E.L. classification: J14, N34, O35, Z13

SS13. Fuzzy methods for measuring sustainability and well-being

Coordinator: Federico Crescenzi

Contributions of the kind:

– new fuzzy indices beyond monetary poverty, for example (food poverty, transport poverty, gender equality, multidimensional poverty)

– new proposal of membership functions

– statistical estimation of fuzzy indices from survey data

– small area estimation (possibly using remote sensing)

– machine/statistical learning approaches to fuzzy indices of deprivation

– statistical software (e.g. r packages)

SS14. Left behind places in the XXI century

Organizers: Alberto Díaz, Esteban Fernández, Fernando Rubiera y Elena Lasarte

The term “left-behind” has been used since the 1960s, but it only became a popular term since the 2008 crisis (Pike et al., 2023), when the difference in the resilience of the different regions of the countries affected by the crisis highlighted the importance of having a term that encompassed the vulnerable areas of a country, i.e., those most affected by internal territorial inequality. Thus, in general the term “left-behind areas” designates territories that are experiencing economic, social and demographic decline that places them at a disadvantage in the context of the country to which they belong. In this Special Session we will try to apply quantitative analysis to investigate territories that indeed have been left-behind the paths of economic growth of prosperity. The aim would be trying to answer some of the following questions: What is the meaning of the left-behindness concept? How can we identify the left-behind areas? Where are those areas? What are their characteristics? What quantitative data are available to study left-behindness? Are there any common past characteristics that might explain their present situation? Are citizens mobilizing somehow to either protest or react in order to reverse this situation?

SS15. Human Mobility and the Twin Transition

Coordinator: Vicente Royuela and Andrea Conte

The Spanish Association of Regional Science is delighted to announce a call for papers for a special session at the 2024 AECR conference in Cuenca. This session, co-organized with the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission and the MOBI-TWIN Project, will focus on the pivotal themes of Human Mobility and the Twin Transition, examining the regional impacts of green and digital shifts.

Session Themes

Human Mobility: Papers should explore the regional dynamics of migration, urbanization, and demographic shifts, especially in the context of environmental and technological changes.
The Twin Transition: We welcome submissions that analyze the interaction between green and digital transitions within regional frameworks, focusing on sustainable development, digital innovation, and their effects on human mobility.
Interdisciplinary Insights: Contributions from economics, sociology, environmental science, technology, and planning are encouraged to foster a comprehensive understanding of regional challenges and opportunities.

Submission Guidelines

Abstracts: Please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words
Submission Portal: Submit your abstracts and full papers via the conference submission system at https://reunionesdeestudiosregionales.org/cuenca2024/en/user/new/ .

Reminder of important dates:

End of the deadline for presentation of extended abstracts-papers: June 14.
Acceptance of extended abstracts-papers: July 1.
Ordinary payment: ends on July 15.
Congress dates: October 16-18.

Venue

The conference will take place at the Faculty of Social Sciences in Cuenca, providing an inspiring setting for scholarly exchanges.

For additional details on the special session, submission processes, and other conference information, please visit https://reunionesdeestudiosregionales.org/ or contact the Special Session convenors [vroyuela@ub.edu].

SS16. Regional Economic Analysis: Integration and Sustainable Development

Coordinator: María-Leticia Meseguer-Santamaría, Departamento de Economía Aplicada I, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales de Albacete, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha.

Session Summary:

The session “Regional Economic Analysis: Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Integration in Spain and Europe” will focus on a detailed examination of the economic factors influencing the social and economic integration of various regions. We will discuss how economic analysis can be used to evaluate and encourage cohesion among disparate territories, highlighting the new challenges and opportunities presented by the 21st century, such as access to and use of information and communication technologies (ICT).

We will explore the economic impact of integrating particularly vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities, into regional labor markets and the economy as a whole. Through comparative analysis, we will investigate the differences and similarities in how various areas are addressing the challenges of integration and development, offering a critical view of the economic strategies that are being implemented.

The session will also focus on how available resources, including access to advanced technologies, can be optimized to improve the economic and social sustainability of regions. This approach not only considers the efficiency of using physical and inherent resources of the territory, such as natural resources, but also how innovation in policy and technology can be directed to support inclusive and sustainable growth.

Finally, the session aims to propose public policy measures that can serve as catalysts for greater economic and social cohesion in the regions, adapting to the specific and unique challenges they face in terms of sustainability and efficient resource management.

SS17. Poverty and food security

Coordinator: Dr. Reyna Elizabeth Rodríguez Pérez – Faculty of Economics – Autonomous University of Coahuila

Poverty and nutritional food security are closely linked, and hunger is on the rise. Without income or resources to grow food, more people are chronically undernourished or malnourished. Natural resource scarcity, population growth and climate change place enormous burdens on nutritional food security. Countries around the world must invest their efforts as an effective way to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition, especially in areas where the majority of the world’s poorest people live. Food is a basic human right, even knowing that one in 10 people or what is the same, 700 million of them around the world, do not have enough food (United Nations, 2010).

Although poverty levels have decreased given global strategies such as the Millennium Development Goals (goal one: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger) and the Sustainable Development Goals also known as Agenda 2030 (goals 1 and 2 end poverty and zero hunger), the general population still lives on the poverty line, which makes them vulnerable to crises. To overcome the economic difficulties of the pandemic that has affected the global level, governments have applied different coping strategies for poor households that have a direct effect on their state of nutrition, health and productivity, which have perpetuated the cycle of poverty and vulnerability.

SS18. Human Mobility and the Twin Transition

Coordinator: Coro Chasco – coro.chasco@uam.es

The Spanish Association of Regional Science is delighted to announce a call for papers for a special session at the 2024 AECR conference in Cuenca. This session, co-organized with the Spanish delegation of the Regional Studies Association (RSA), will focus on geospatial analysis and regional policy issues with the aim of deepening the debate on development, territory, and governance, with a special focus in the Spanish/UE contexts.

For this special session, researchers are invited to submit papers on the topics mentioned above. Contributions that help to better understand regional disparities between Spanish regions in terms of their ability to innovate and attract public funding for research and innovation are particularly welcome.