The Future of Europe - Central and Eastern Europe in a Comparative Perspective CASE - Center for Social and Economic Research Anniversary Conference 17-18 November 2016 Warsaw, POLAND INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Over the past 25 years, the European project has seen many substantial changes and reforms: the transition process in Central and Eastern Europe resulted in the accession to the EU of ten new Member States that were formerly communist, while the physical introduction of the Euro in 2002 presented the EU with a host of new macroeconomic challenges. As of 2016, the EU faces some of its most daunting challenges, with questions of governance and rule of law within the EU itself and within its Member States, a festering refugee crisis tied to the European identity, uncertainty about the EU's role in the world, and the ongoing challenges associated with the Eurozone crisis and Greece. Given the obstacles and uncertainties facing the EU, are there lesson to be learned from Central and Eastern Europe and its experience post-socialism? Where can the policy lessons learned since the fall of the Berlin Wall come into play in the new European landscape? For its 25th anniversary, the Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE) in Poland invites international researchers to discuss lessons learned over the past quarter-century and how to bring them to bear on the future challenges of Europe. Taking a comparative perspective, the purpose of this conference will not only be to survey the landscape and how dramatically it has changed over CASE's lifespan (and with CASE's assistance), but to derive practical, actionoriented, and tangible policy lessons for Europe. Based on CASE's vast experience in research and technical assistance projects, the conference offers a chance to survey the events of the past with an eye to the future. Bringing together scholars, policymakers, and the business community, this conference will offer something for all. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Prof. Leszek Balcerowicz, Professor, Warsaw School of Economics; Former Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and National Bank Governor. SUBMISSION OF PAPERS: The conference will host a blend of thematic and plenary sessions covering the most important economic and political topics now facing Europe. To that end, we are soliciting high-quality, unpublished work from scholars in economics, public policy, political science, sociology, and other disciplines, which deals with the lessons of the past 25 years and how they may be applied to Europe's future. Topics include but are not limited to: * Trade, integration, and external trade policy * Macroeconomic challenges in the new Europe * Fiscal policy, taxation, Maastricht, and the future of the welfare state * Monetary policy, the Euro, and central banking * The EU neighborhood policy, enlargement, and the frontier of the EU (Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Russia, the Caucasus) * Transition and post-transition lessons/country case studies * EU institutions and their reform * Financial markets and financial institutions * The EU in a comparative context  Labor markets and integration across Europe * Health and social outcomes * The refugee crisis and issues of migration * Social harmonization In the first instance, interested scholars should submit an extended abstract (approximately 5 pages) no later than March 31, 2016. Authors are allowed to submit more than one paper and submissions for complete sessions are also welcomed. We will confirm receipt of your submission and notify of acceptance no later than April 22, 2016. All submitted papers will be peer-reviewed before acceptance. Upon acceptance of the abstract, the complete paper will be due at the end of October. Papers will be grouped thematically for the conference. Paper presenters are also expected to discuss one other paper during the workshop. The discussant assignments will be made by CASE once the program has been decided upon. As we anticipate a high volume of papers, papers should be of the highest academic quality and in perfect English. Each final paper should be no more than 10,000 words in length and have policy relevance in addition to scientific rigor. Finally, participation in the conference is welcome even without a paper contribution. The conference language is English. PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES: The most outstanding papers presented at the conference will be selected for publication in a special issue of a prominent economics journal. CASE is currently in talks with several outlets, including the Journal of International Money and Finance and Emerging Markets Finance and Trade about sponsoring a special issue. Further information will be posted at the conference website. CONTACT AND KEY DATES: * Submission of papers: conference25@case-research.eu Deadline for submission of extended abstracts: March 31, 2016 Notification of acceptance: April 22, 2016 Deadline for submission of full papers: October 31, 2016 * Conference logistics and organization: agata.kwiek@case-research.eu LOCATION AND TRAVELLING; The conference will take place in Warsaw, in a central location (tbc). ACCOMMODATION; Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements. CASE plans to organize the conference in a centrally-located hotel in the city center, and participants will be encouraged to book their stay in that hotel. CASE is currently negotiating for a group rate and will provide information on the venue/accommodation shortly. REGISTRATION FEE; Speakers: 25 EUR; Other participants: free of charge ABOUT THE ORGANIZER: CASE - Center for Social and Economic Research is the top-ranked economics think tank in Central Europe (4th place among social policy thanks worldwide and 3rd among CEE think tanks in 2015 according to the University of Pennsylvania Global Go To Think Tank Index). Established in Warsaw in 1991 by a group of economists to help guide the transition process in post-communist countries, CASE is now an internationally-renowned organization drawing on the talents of prominent economists from the entire world, with the ambition to work on key challenges facing global and European economies and societies. While remaining focused on five core thematic areas of: (1) European Neighbourhood Policy, enlargement, trade and economic integration, (2) labour markets, human capital and social policy, (3) innovation, competitiveness and entrepreneurship, (4) reforms, growth and poverty reduction in developing and transition countries, (5) macroeconomics and public finance, CASE contributes to new debates facing Europe, including economic crisis and global trade agreements. CASE relies on its pool of internationally-recognised economic experts and Warsaw-based staff to carry out the following activities: * Conducting independent, high-quality research and analysis; * Advising governments, international organizations and the NGO sector; * Informing and encouraging public debate; * Disseminating economic knowledge and research results; and * Supporting the growth and independence of the NGO sector in post-communist countries. Since 1991 the organization has concluded over 350 projects in 50 countries on 5 continents. __._,_.___