Conference Overview
The School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS) and the Center for Business and Economics Research (CBER) at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, are pleased to announce the 5th International Annual Conference on "A New Global Order, Yet Again" In an era marked by geopolitical realignments, technological innovations, green transitions, climate change, and evolving trade dynamics, the global economic landscape is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. Developing economies today face multifaceted challenges: leveraging new opportunities in a decentralized global system while managing debt insolvency risk, uncertainties in international trade, climate change vulnerabilities, and rising socioeconomic inequality.
This conference seeks to explore how economies—especially in the Global South—can adapt, innovate, and thrive in these changing policy scenarios globally. Key discussion areas include the growing volatility in international trade flows, the impact of AI on economic governance, strategies for climate adaptation, exploring self-sustaining financial solutions, and delivery mechanisms that enhance economic resilience and foster sustainable development. By bringing together policymakers, academics, experts, and industry leaders, the conference aims to foster dialogue on innovative policies that promote stability, inclusivity, and long-term prosperity in an increasingly uncertain world.
This conference aims to address critical questions: 1) How can developing nations design and implement sustainable financing models that reduce dependency on external aid while ensuring long-term economic resilience? 2) How can policy reforms and technology-driven solutions be leveraged to address human development challenges and climate change risk in developing nations? 3) How can developing countries adapt to the evolving global trade uncertainties and supply chains? 4) What role should institutions play in fostering equitable growth amid technological disruptions? By bridging research and policy evidence, the conference will contribute to a forward-looking economic agenda.
The conference welcomes contributions from economists, policy makers, social scientists, practitioners, and academicians. The sub-themes of this year's conference include the following:
1. Public finance, and debt dependency challenge: Public finance plays a crucial role in driving structural transformation and inclusive growth. This sub-theme focuses on how developing countries can leverage taxation, public expenditure, and mobilize resources to support fiscal sustainability, and reducing dependency on external aid. It invites research on economic frameworks that promote long-term resilience, inclusive growth, and financial sovereignty.
2. AI in economic research, policy and planning: This sub-theme examines the role of artificial intelligence in economic research, policy design, and evidence-based decision making and planning. It seeks to explore how AI-driven methods can enhance data driven decisions, forecasting, and policy evaluation, while also addressing challenges related to ethics, equity, and institutional capacity. Contributions are encouraged to critically assess opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into economic governance frameworks in the context of developing countries.
3. Climate change, adaptation and financing: As climate change intensifies, developing countries are disproportionately more vulnerable to the adverse impact on the socio-economic level. This sub-theme invites critical analysis and research on the innovative approaches to climate financing, economics of loss and damage, policies to support adaptation and resilience, and challenges and opportunities for developing countries to transition to sustainable, and low-carbon economies.
4. Global trade and supply chains: The evolving trade tariff regimes and global supply chains have far-reaching implications for developing economies. This sub-theme focuses on how trade realignments affect export competitiveness, industrial policy, and regional integration. It encourages studies on diversification strategies, productivity improvements, and new trade corridors that reflect the new global economic order.
5. Institutions and inclusive growth: Strong institutions are critical for managing transitions, ensuring accountability, and distributing the gains of growth equitably. This sub-theme explores how institutional design, governance reforms, and rule of law shape inclusive development. It welcomes work on institutional responses to technological change, fiscal decentralization, and mechanisms that build trust and social cohesion.
6. Technology for human development: Digital technologies offer opportunities to accelerate progress in education, health, and social welfare but they also risk deepening divides. This sub-theme examines how innovation can address human development gaps in the Global South. It invites contributions on digital inclusion, tech-enabled service delivery, and scalable solutions for improving the well-being in underserved communities.