CALL FOR PAPERS
The Coming Age of Regulation & Corporate Response
2010 BALAS Annual Conference
24th-26th March 2010, Barcelona, Spain
Hosted by ESADE Business School, Ramon Llull University

Around the world, governments’ role in the economy is expanding as a result of the 2008 financial crisis and the ensuing global economic downturn. In developed countries, the current political and economic debate is centred on whether this is a temporary response to very difficult times or whether it will also represent a more significant and lasting redefinition of the economic role of governments.

In the last two decades, the notion of free markets as the best way to promote economic growth and stability has enjoyed remarkable intellectual and political ascendancy. However, this view is being seriously challenged. An important shift in the intellectual and political climate is already noticeable as more and better regulation is being called for, especially in the case of the financial-services industry. Furthermore, there has been increasing awareness in recent years that self-regulation and corporate social responsibility are not enough on their own to solve global problems such as climate change, and that there is a need for sound, long-term governmental policy frameworks and transnational regulations.

With notable exceptions, Latin American governments come from a tradition of cumbersome business regulations and heavy involvement in the economy. In that respect, what is the current status of the debate about the economic role of governments in Latin America? What trends can be anticipated? To what extent will the trend towards regulatory reforms, making it easier to do business and promoted by many Latin American countries, be affected? What are the main regulatory reforms needed to unleash the region’s growth potential? How should companies operating in Latin America respond to these emerging trends (opposing, supporting, engaging in new forms of collaboration)?

BALAS invites you to be part of this discussion and attend the Barcelona Conference where these and other related questions will be discussed. In addition, the BALAS conference is also a venue for the presentation of selected papers related to the business and economic environment in Latin America and the Caribbean in the following tracks:

CONFERENCE THEME TRACKS
Business-Government Relations and Non-market Strategies
Knowledge and Innovation Management
CSR and Sustainable Development
Public-Private Partnership

GENERAL LATIN AMERICAN BUSINESS TRACKS
Accounting, Taxation and Management Information and Control Systems
Economic Environment and Regional Integration
Entrepreneurship and Family Business
Human Resource Management
Strategies for Global Competitiveness
Culture, Social and Ethical Issues
Marketing Management
Consumer Behaviour
Corporate Finance
Financial Markets, Investment and Risk Management
Information Technology Management
Supply-Chain and Operations Management
Management Education and Teaching Cases

Programme Chair: Xavier Mendoza, ESADE Business School (xavier.mendoza@esade.edu)