2008 EAMSA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 

Invitation and call for papers

 The Future of Sustainable Development in Asia: Prospects and Implications for Euro-Asia Business

Doshisha Business School

Kyoto, Japan

4-6 December 2008

 Friends and colleagues

The Euro-Asia Management Studies Association (EAMSA) will hold its 25th Annual Conference from Thursday 4th to Saturday 6th December 2008 at Doshisha Business School in Kyoto, Japan supported by colleagues from various Kyoto institutions. The special theme for this 25th conference will be The Future of Sustainable Development in Asia: Prospects and Implications for Euro-Asia Business, although we very much welcome papers on mainstream international business and managerial issues.

Expectations for further economic growth in Asia are high, though the focus of growth has shifted westwards in recent years. China and India now account for 55 per cent of all Asian GDP, with anticipated growth rates of over 10 per cent and 8 per cent respectively, deriving from the activity of both multinational and local businesses. While many welcome such soaring economic prospects in their personal environments, many others feel a sense of concern over wider issues.  

As we already know from experience across Asia, growth in production and consumption can bring side-effects injurious to natural habitats and human welfare. Perhaps because these are externalities arising from the linear economic mainstream of business activities, they have yet to make a full impact in the research literature. This leaves unattended key issues of business ethics, e.g. what are the responsibilities of business in the face of such externalities? Is it possible to have rapid economic growth without civil and/or environmental degradation? What initiatives are taking place in the business world to cope with public concerns of this kind? Researchers need to embrace issues such as these, and EAMSA's landmark 25th conference is an appropriate forum to initiate a topical review of a key new area of academic focus. Of course, the relevant areas of research are potentially broad; they address many aspects of business activity, both internal and external to companies, as well as many domains of social science impacted upon by business activity.  

We invite papers from all members of EAMSA and others interested in the above conference theme, as well as traditional EAMSA topics listed below. When submitting a paper, please indicate if it is aimed at the competitive, workshop or PhD track. Colleagues are also invited to propose panels on other stimulating themes. EAMSA especially wishes to encourage PhD candidates and young scholars to submit papers, which will be presented in sessions for PhD candidates.