The third of the International Political Economy Conference series will be co-organized by Kocaeli University (Turkey), University of Westminster (England), Silesian University in Opava (Czech Republic), Institute for Economic & Social Research of Piedmont (IRES, Italy), and supported by Turkish Employment Agency* (İŞKUR), Turkish Social Sciences Association, Kocaeli Chamber of Industry*, Social Research Foundation, Petroleum, Chemical, Rubber Workers Union of Turkey (PETROL-IS), The Journal of Industrial Relations and Human Resources (ISGUC.ORG), Work & Society Journal, International Journal of Politics & Economics (England), Akademia Social Sciences Index (ASOS Index) and IJOPEC Publishing (London - Istanbul). Considering the post-developments of 2008 crisis, the main theme of the conference has been determined as “Labor Markets and Employment”. The conference will be held in Kocaeli on 15-17 September 2011.

This conference aims to generate a ground through which political, social, global, and systematical aspects of labor markets and political economy of employment and unemployment can be discussed. Considering the 2008 economic crisis and the massive unemployment rates in all over the world and the discussions on getting back to pre-crisis level of employment, the policies for generating employment for the masses will be discussed. The increase in informal and irregular employment and their economic and social impacts on labor markets and on labor in general will be discussed in terms of globalization, new technologies, the structure of labor market organizations, industrial relations, international competition, economic growth and development.

One of the main intentions of this conference is to consider labor markets and employment in relation with the process of changes in economic policies. Moreover, the dynamics of labor markets and employment, which range from banking sector to industry, from the use of technology to flexible labor organizations, from export-based growth strategies to economically dependent relations are hoped to be discussed. Possible subthemes are listed below; however, the conference is open to other subthemes and suggestions that are related to political economy.

• Crisis, Labor Markets and Employment
• Globalization and Unemployment
• Segmentation and Social Inequalities
• Trade Unions and Globalization
• Labor contracts, Globalization and Crises
• Re-Structuring the Labor Markets
• Globalization, Labor Markets and Unemployment
• Migration, Migrant Workers and Labor Markets
• Informal Sectors / Informalization
• Unemployment coverage and supports
• Vocational training
• Entrepreneurship and Employment
• Micro Credits and Employment
• White Collar Workers and the problems of organization
• Labor Markets and Discrimination
• Education and Employment Faith-based Business, Growth and Investment
• New Technologies, Labor Markets and Employment
• International Competition and Labor Markets
• Flexible Markets
• Union Organization and Globalization
• Work Quality and the Debate on the Economy of Happiness
• Women’s and Youth’s Unemployment, and Employment
• Capitalism and the Future of Labor Markets
• Innovation and Labor Markets
• International Division of Labor & Employment
• Job Search and Active Employment Policies
• Active Labor Markets and Employment
• Unemployment among the Educated
• Unemployment and its Effects

Other related topics and session proposals are welcomed as they would enrich the conference and expand the ground for further discussion. The language of the conference will be both Turkish and English. The papers presented at the Conference will have the chance to be published in International Journal of Politics and Economics, Research in Political Economy, The Journal of Industrial Relations and Human Resources (ISGUC.ORG) and Work & Society, after going through the reviewing processes of these journals. In addition, Turkish Social Science Association, Social Research Foundation and IJOPEC Publishing (England) plan to publish the conference papers as an edited book, in English and/or Turkish.

Abstracts and session proposals should be arround 300 words, in Word format and 12 fonts, include paper title, the name(s) and full address (mail address, affiliated institution, e-mail, phone and fax) of the author(s), the purpose and the method of the work, expected results and suggestions, be submitted by July 14th, 2011, electronically to bilgi@icopec.org, or uploaded through www.icopec.org/tr/basvuru.html

The detailed information regarding the conference can be reached at  www.icopec.org

*not approved yet