Call for papers: Impact of the Development of the Knowledge Economy (or Knowledge Economies) in the North on Economies in the South

A special issue of International Journal of Public Policy

The knowledge economy may be viewed as an entity or group of entities whose aim and purpose is to generate and manage the creation of knowledge; in extremity, this process may be seen to develop in perpetuity and as an end in itself. However, a knowledge economy may also be viewed as an entity whose aim is to contribute to knowledge creation with quite specific economic and/or social outcomes. Seen in this way, the development of the knowledge economy is likely to result in clear and unambiguous benefits to those who participate with it.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to encourage research on the impact of the development of the knowledge economy (viewed as the second approach described above) within the relatively more prosperous northern economies on those within the relatively less prosperous south.

The contributors of this Special Issue are likely to be drawn from wide interest areas and include both academics and practitioners. For example, academic economists could address matters such as the role of knowledge as an engine for economic growth within a north-south context. The contribution made by universities and research institutions would be a case in point here.

Academics and/or practitioners from other areas within the social sciences, such as those with a sociological frame, could discuss the dispersion of knowledge, and the varying impact of this dispersion, on different groups. How does the dispersion occur, can we influence its pace and intensity, etc?

Political scientists have an opportunity to discuss, amongst other issues, the relationship between power and knowledge creation and its utilisation. Those involved with educational research have an opportunity to address, amongst other issues, changes to the patterns seen in the rates of return to education in a national or north-south context.

Engineers, computer scientists and other similarly technologically-based contributions could come in the form of discussions of how physical or network or other structures assist with knowledge dissemination issues and with what likely impact.

The readership for the Special Issue will include those drawn from the above inter-disciplinary mix of interests.

Suitable topics include but are not limited to:

• The link between knowledge creation and the achievement of economic growth in a national and international context, but particularly in a North-South context.
• How does the dispersion of knowledge with different groups affect their economic and other kinds of livelihoods?
• What is the social and economic relationship between power and knowledge?
• Do power and knowledge re-enforce each other? And if so, how?
• Is the nature of any relationship between power and knowledge more skewed when viewed in a north-south context?
• The link between knowledge creation and knowledge management and the economic and/or social benefits that flow from this. How is this to be measured?
• The impact of developments in physical infrastructure (including healthcare systems, transport systems, computer networks, etc) on the distribution of knowledge and the impact on economic activity of that distribution.

Important Dates
Expressions of interest in contributing by: 31 January, 2011
(Please email expressions of interest to Professor Dabir-Alai, dabirp@richmond.ac.uk, p.dabiralai@yahoo.com)
Deadline for first draft: 31 May, 2011
Deadline for final draft: 30 September, 2011