Call for papers: International Conference on Diaspora for Development, July 13-14, 2009

The Migration and Remittances team of the Development Economics and Prospects Group (DEPG) of the World Bank is organizing an International Conference on Diaspora and Development on July 13-14, 2009 in Washington D.C. 

The diaspora of developing countries can be a potent force for development for their countries of origin, through remittances, but more importantly, also through promotion of trade, investments, knowledge and technology transfers. The conference aims to consolidate research and evidence on these issues with a view to formulating policies in both sending and receiving countries.

The program committee invites economists (and non-economists as well) and policy makers to submit proposals for papers on related themes. Topics will include but are not limited to:

• Demographic trends that will influence the destination and composition of the diasporas from developing countries.
• Diaspora's economic and non-economic contributions to development through trade, investment, transfer of technology, skill transfer, institution building. (Ideally, we would like to cover topics other than remittances and brain drain on which much has already been written.)
• Policies that deepen the diaspora's contribution to the development of the country of origin. For example, do diaspora bonds actually help mobilize financing for development? Does dual citizenship deepen the diaspora's ties to the country of origin?

Papers with a focus on Africa are especially welcome. Also papers dealing with developed countries are welcome if they draw lessons for developing countries.

All proposals will be assessed anonymously by a panel of expert scholars in the respective fields. Selected papers will be included in a conference volume to be published by the World Bank. Selected presenters from developing countries may apply for partial financial support for the preparation of papers and/or travel costs.

Timeline:
Submission of one-page proposal: April 30, 2009
Decision: May 15, 2009
Conference paper/powerpoint: July 3, 2009

Please email your abstract/papers to Ms. Sonia Plaza at splaza@worldbank.org.