27^th International Input-Output Association Conference
and
9^th Edition of the International School of I-O Analysis
30^th June to 5^th July 2019, Glasgow, Scotland

2019 IIOA Conference Vision - Continue to change

Introduction

Sanjiv Mahajan, as Chair of the Local Organising Committee for the 27^th IIOA Conference in Glasgow, Scotland and Vice-President of the IIOA, describes how this Conference links to the past and forges the way forward for the IIOA and future IIOA Conferences. Sanjiv is also one of the sponsors of the 2019 IIOA Conference as well as personally underwriting any additional costs.

Our proposal for the 2019 IIOA Conference in Glasgow, Scotland will build upon the successes of previous IIOA conferences as well as being innovative by introducing several new features. We aim to attract a wide range of experienced academics, scientists, researchers, innovators, educators and policy makers from across the world and at all stages of their careers. Our aim is to create a programme to inspire the next generation, encourage partnerships and collaborations and continue to ensure a vibrant future for the IIOA.

Our Legacy

The term legacy has different meanings for different people, languages and cultures.

The IIOA wants to leave an excellent and long-lasting impression on its attendees through the subject content development, professionalism, training younger scholars and the manner in how the 2019 IIOA Conference is conducted. This should help to inspire attendees to pursue careers with enthusiasm in relevant I-O related aspects especially given the opportunities for development, monitoring and analyses of different aspects of the economy – social, environmental, regional and global reaches.

IIOA Aims

The IIOA aims to continue delivering its core objectives, and become much more dynamic by pursuing a suite of strategies designed to deliver new objectives such as supporting young scholars, widening the awareness of the organisation and increasing its membership worldwide.

The most significant achievement remains the core objective of the IIOA, it continues to develop and expand the theoretical and practical dynamics of the Input-Output field, including the wide-range of applications. This focus needs to remain at the core.

Economic Systems Research

The Economic Systems Research (ESR) is the official journal of the IIOA. The ESR is a double-peer reviewed scientific journal dedicated to the furtherance of theoretical and factual knowledge about economic systems, structures and processes, and their change through time and space, at the sub-national, national and international levels.

The journal contains sensible, matter-of-fact tools and data for modelling, policy analysis, planning and decision-making in large economic environments.

How does the IIOA Change?

The IIOA Council used to meet for a few hours at the end of a long day on one of the evenings of the Conference week. However, in 2015, in the 23^rd IIOA Conference in Mexico City, the IIOA Council met in advance of the Conference and this experience was found to be successful all round. This initiative driven by Sanjiv Mahajan led the transition of the IIOA Council to meet annually, and dedicate a full one-day meeting (before the IIOA Conference) to consider all operational, developmental and future related issues. This has been one of many features that has helped the IIOA to move forward as a dynamic organisation proactively managing its business evolution in:

• Delivering its core objectives;
• Supporting young scholars;
• Enhancing links between IIOA and other national statistical institutions and international statistical organisations;
• Rotating the Conference in different continents to spread its impact;
• Strengthening links between producers and users through to policy makers;
• Dynamically exchanging information between IIOA members and between the IIOA and beyond; and
• Continually improving its systems, processes and transparency in how it operates.

Examples of change embraced by the IIOA

In recent years, the growth of younger scholars in its membership has enabled the IIOA Council to listen, change and embrace more of what is needed to inspire and motivate younger scholars.

With the focus on the IIOA Conference, the shape and content has changed in recent years to facilitate and encourage young scholars via the:

• Development of the ISIOA, which now forms an integral part the Conference;
• Flash Presentation Competition sessions with prizes;
• Young Researcher's Night to aid networking;
• Buddy Programme;
• Development Programme;
• InspIO Talks as one of the Plenary Sessions;
• Panel Session on a topical issue;
• More poster sessions; and
• Use of social media.

IIOA Conferences - the environment, off-setting our climate impact

Conferences or large events can be a major source of greenhouse gas emissions generated through consumption of various items such as air travel, ground transportation, electricity, air conditioning, meals and paper. The IIOA is developing and implementing strategies that compensate for some of the ecological footprint caused by our international conferences.

In the 2019 IIOA Conference, the following steps will be pursued with this cause in mind:

• On registration, each attendee will be asked for a GBP 5.00 donation as a voluntary contribution that will be forwarded to organisations based in Scotland whose remit is to pursue green causes. The following organisations have been selected:
  • Energy Action Scotland (fuel poverty focus) - https://www.eas.org.uk/
  • Woodland Trust in Scotland - https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/about-us/where-we-work/scotland/

• The Chair of the LOC (Sanjiv Mahajan) will personally contribute to doubling the amount raised through the voluntary contribution process.
• The venues of the events (Conference itself, Reception, Conference Dinner and Young Researcher’s Night) will all be in close proximity of each other.
• Similarly, a range of accommodation will be provided for all attendees to be close to the Technology and Innovation Conference Centre.
• Secondary travel from Glasgow Airport to the Conference Venue is minimal – 15 minutes to the city centre.
• Through the Conference days (not evenings), for the morning, lunch and afternoon breaks, various selections of light, delicious food will be served but meat items will be avoided.
• Food provided at events like the Civic Reception will be predominantly based on Scottish produce, further reducing the impact on the environment.

The success of these steps will be reviewed by the IIOA Council and built upon in future IIOA Conferences.

IIOA Today

A brief picture of the IIOA Membership in 2018:

• Around 650 members.
• Across 64 countries.
• Over one-third were born in 1980 or thereafter.
• Around 30% are female.
• 36% are from non-high income countries (using the World Bank List definition).
• The USA, China and Japan form around "nine" per cent each of the total membership.

The Next Generation

At the 2019 IIOA Conference, we want to continue in this direction embracing this vibrant approach. With the IIOA Conference in the UK for the first time, and back in Europe since 2014, we want to ensure we have a successful conference and reaching out to experienced and younger scholars in the field in the UK and beyond.

Encouraging students at events like the ISIOA will leave a clear mark and hopefully an appetite on attendees to pursue a career in this field.

Sanjiv Mahajan
January 2019

Chair of Local Organising Committee
Vice President of the International Input-Output Association
E-mail: