Eighth Annual Research Conference on Population, Reproductive Health and Economic Development

The Population and Poverty Research Network (PopPov) is a group of academic researchers and funders from around the globe interested in how population dynamics affect economic outcomes. We are investigating how population policies can influence poverty reduction at the household level and economic growth at the country/state level. The Eighth Annual Research Conference on Population, Reproductive Health and Economic Development will take place from January 22 – 25 in Nairobi, Kenya. Selected papers will advance knowledge and/or methodology, addressing the themes relevant to the PopPov inquiry into how population dynamics and reproductive health affect economic development (see references below). 

Conference Themes

The conference scientific program steering committee invites paper submissions that address important issues at the intersection of population, reproductive health and economic prosperity. Applicants are to submit their papers to one of the five topical sessions described below. We strongly encourage studies that are methodologically innovative and are especially interested in new research that demonstrates novel empirical evidence or that raises emerging issues related to the overarching themes of the network. A bibliography of research outputs related to themes below may be found athttp://www.poppov.org/Research/Bibliography.aspx. 

Session 1 - Health and non-health benefits of family planning: What are the benefits of family planning? Health benefits of family planning may range from reductions in maternal and child morbidity and mortality and improvements in child health and nutrition to improvements in female mental health status; some examples of non-health benefits include increases in female and child’s educational attainment, household productivity, and household savings.

Session 2 - Policy effects and benefits to reproductive health: To what extent are reproductive health benefits gained from removing user fees and health insurance? To what extent are reproductive health benefits gained as a result of performance based financing? What other financing policies have had reproductive health benefits? What methodological advances have been made in assessing policy effects?

Session 3 - Economic consequences of poor reproductive health or improvements in reproductive health access/outcomes. What are the economic ramifications of poor reproductive health status, of improvements in access to reproductive health programs, or of improvements in reproductive health outcomes? What is the magnitude of these economic consequences? 

Session 4 - Demographic transition, population growth, and economic growth: What are the trends in fertility and mortality changes, and what are their implications for economic growth, income distribution, and/or the incidence of poverty?

Session 5 – Other: Other topics relevant to the PopPov Research Network are welcome. We encourage studies that are methodologically innovative and welcome randomized evaluations, longitudinal analysis as well as analytical assessments of the literature. We are especially interested in new research that demonstrates novel empirical evidence or raises emerging issues that are related to the overarching themes of the network. 

Instructions for Submission of Papers 

Submit papers at http://www.conftool.net/PopPovConf2014/.

Minimum Submission Requirements: 

• The official language of the research conference is English. 
• You are invited to submit either an extended abstract or paper online to the Eighth Annual Research Conference. Submissions must be sufficiently detailed to allow the steering committee to judge the merits of the research and must include a description of the research objectives, the data and research methods, some preliminary results, and the policy relevance of the research. Policy relevance may be defined as: (1) identifying a problem that needs to be addressed by government; (2) identifying or assessing potential policy/programmatic solutions to social/economic problem; (3) providing new information or techniques that may be used in design of social/economic/health programs. 
• Authors may submit a maximum of two abstracts/papers/panel suggestions. 

Instructions for Recommending Panels

We welcome suggestions for panels. Submissions for panels should include a summary of 1000 words maximum.

Please submit your panel suggestions by August 19, 2013 at http://www.conftool.net/PopPovConf2014.

Deadlines and Important Dates 

The deadline for all paper submissions is Monday, September 16, 2013, 8:00 AM Eastern Time (ET). All applicants will be notified about the status of their submission by Friday, October 12, 2013. Only accepted papers may be presented at the conference. No substitutions will be allowed.

Summary of Important Dates: 

• August 19, 2013, 8:00 AM ET: Deadline for submitting panel suggestions 
• September 16, 2013, 8:00 AM ET: Deadline for submitting extended abstracts or papers 
• October 12, 2013: Applicants are notified of paper acceptance 
• January 10, 2014: Deadline for presenters to submit completed papers 
• January 20, 2014: Deadline for presenters to submit presentations

Travel Awards

Limited travel funds are available to assist current and former PopPov grantees and paper presenters without other sources of travel funding. Priority will be given to individuals with papers accepted for the program (one author), program participants (discussants, committee members), and researchers employed in developing country institutions.

References

Population Dynamics and Economic Development: Elements of a Research Agenda, July 2005 http://poppov.org/Portals/1/documents/CGDworkingGroupReportJuly2005English.pdf
Population Dynamics and Economic Development: Filling the Research Gaps, March 2009 http://poppov.org/Portals/1/documents/papers/Joshi_Nugent.pdf

Scientific Program Steering Committee Members

Véronique Filippi, Chair Kofi Awusabo-Asare John Cleland
Ben D’Exelle Allan Hill
Damien de Walque
David Weil
Marlene Lee, PopPov Secretariat

 

Link: http://poppov.org/PopPovConferences/8thAnnualPopPovConference.aspx