Call for Papers

The Japanese Society for the History of Economic Thought (JSHET) in 
cooperation with the European Society for the History of Economic Thought 
(ESHET) organizes a joint conference on

The Dissemination of Economic Ideas
21-22 March 2009, Tokyo and 24 March 2009, Kyoto, Japan.

While there exist several valuable studies of aspects of the dissemination 
and further development of economic ideas and theories at least since the 
time of the Meiji Restoration in 1867, if not before, a comprehensive 
account of the rich flow of ideas between and within Europe, Japan and the 
rest of the world is not yet available. The conference aims at
- investigating how economic ideas developed and spread across national 
borders (within Europe, Asia, and the US);
- studying the implications of the novel ideas with respect to the ways in 
which certain economic and social problems were perceived;
- investigating the policies that were derived from the new perspectives 
assumed and tools adopted;
- studying the impact of the new ideas on the formation of institutions;
- elaborating these aspects in particular with regard to the age of 
enlightenment, historicism and the interwar period.

While in the past Japan was first and foremost an importer of ideas coming 
from the West and especially Europe and its Western offshoots, in more 
recent times things have changed. It would suffice to recall the names of 
major Japanese economists who had an important impact on recent 
developments in economics. Hence there is a substantial intellectual 
cross-breeding taking place right now. The conference aims at covering also 
this aspect of the dissemination of ideas and welcomes papers dealing with 
the contributions of major Japanese scholars and the absorption of their 
ideas in Europe and elsewhere.

Proposals of papers plus abstracts of no more than 800 words each are to be 
submitted electronically by 31 August 2008 to Tamotsu Nishizawa 
([log in to unmask]) and Heinz D. Kurz ([log in to unmask]). 
Applicants will be informed about a decision concerning the acceptance of 
the paper by 30 September, 2008. First versions of accepted papers will 
have to be submitted in full by 31 December, 2008.


Tony Brewer