Thematic Network on Arctic Economic Science

Goals

The overall goal of the TN on Arctic Economic Science is to promote research that improve the knowledge of how the diverse changes in the Arctic affect opportunities and constraints of existing populations and the potential for economic growth/change, and thereby extend and improve the knowledge base for informed policy advice. The TN will further emphasize an experimental methodological approach in accordance with principles adhered to by the Economic Science Association (ESA). More institutions in the Arctic should be interested in doing social science experimental research as many institutions recently have begun to do outside the Arctic. A goal of the TN is to facilitate the transfer of knowledge necessary to get started. This goal may have immediate intrinsic value to the receiving institutions both in terms of enabling the use of experiments for educational purposes and giving a head start for doing own research, in addition to contributing to the overall goal in the long term.

Activities

Main activities in the short run are related to identifying research issues for joint projects and possible funding possibilities, and develop project proposals for applications. By bringing together institutions from different parts of the Arctic World, there is a range of potential benefits. The possible sources for funding increase, the general interest of the research is likely to be greater, cultural and language specific barriers to data collection from several countries are removed, international knowledge exchange within the network is facilitated, and a wider dissemination of results outside the research community is more easily obtainable.

To facilitate research cooperation, the TN plans on meeting physically on at least two occasions annually during international conferences and host workshops and organize sessions for paper presentations whenever appropriate. In addition, efforts are undertaken to ensure mobility among the partner institutions on a bilateral basis.

  • Coordinated attendance at the 21st April International Academic Conference on Economic and Social Development, hosted by National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) with the support of the World Bank. Professor Aleskerov, HSE and TNAES, will organize a special track of sessions on Arctic issues as he did in 2018 and 2019. To take place in Moscow early April 2020.
  • Student and faculty mobility between HSE and UiT: Society and Advanced Technology in the Arctic – last year of a 3 year PhD field course, financially supported by DIKU. To take place in Moscow early April 2020.
  • Extension of partners – first priority on bringing in an institution from Asia (North America, Euope and Russia already represented). Planned visit Hokkaido University January 2020. Workshop planned in Tromsø in early June 2020 with particants from Arctic Five universities and beyond.
  • Continued efforts to secure long term funding of research projects, preferably involving all partner institutions
  • Student and faculty mobility between HSE and UiT: Society and Advanced Technology in the Arctic – a 3 year PhD field course, financial support from SIU/DIKU. First year 2018 in Harstad and Tromsø, second year 2019 at Svalbard.
  • Coordinated attendance (financially supported by UiT) at the Remote Regions and Northern Development Sessions organized by American TNAES partners at UAA as part of the Annual Meeting of the Western Regional Science Association. Pasadena in February 2018 and Napa in February 2019
  • Coordinated attendance (financially supported by UiT) at The April International Academic Conference on Economic and Social Development, hosted by National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) with the support of the World Bank. Professor Aleskerov, HSE and TNAES, organizes a special track of sessions on Arctic issues. The 19th conference in 2018 and the 20th in 2019.
  • Student and faculty mobility between UAA and UiT (HNPla-2014/10050 - Conflict and cooperation in the High North – an experimental approach, financial support from SIU)
  • Coordinated attendance (financially supported by UiT) at ICASS IX Umea June 2017, organizing a session on Experimental Approaches to Human Behavior (Session 17.20)
  • Student and faculty mobility between HSE and UiT: HNPla-2016/10109 - High North Economics: Learning how economists work and think in Russia and Norway using theoretical models and laboratory experiments, financial support from SIU;
  • TNAES meetings with Canadian TNAES partners at Université Laval in Ville de Quebec in November 2017, financial support from UiT

Other Information

Stein Østbye, former Lead of the UArctic Thematic Network on Arctic Economic Science