100th International Conference of the Applied Econometrics Association
Date: 04-05 October 2010
Venue: Ankara - Türkiye

The 100th International Conference of the Applied Econometrics Association with the theme “A Transdisciplinary Approach in Science and New Economic Paradigms” convened on 4-5 October 2010 in Ankara, Turkey under the sponsorship of Bilkent University, the Central Bank of Republic of Turkey (CBRT) and Turkish State Planning Organization (SPO). The Centre was represented by Dr. Murat Atlamaz, Senior Researcher, and Mr. Atilla Karaman, Researcher.

The aim of the Conference was to address the following questions in a transdisciplinary approach:

  • What can the contributions of nanotechnology, informatics and new economic paradigms be to society, economics, scientific analysis and their applications in 2010 and in the coming decades?
  • What needs to be corrected?
  • What are the initial signals, the driving structures of the society in this context?

On the first day of the conference, two topics were covered: nanotechnologies, their impact to the economy and society in coming decades, and informatics and, in particular, the impacts of software structures to decision systems. Dr. Ali Doğramacı, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Bilkent University, opened the conference with a welcome speech. Next, Dr. Erdem Başçı, Deputy Governor of the CBRT, delivered a short speech, where he related research and development (R&D) and financial stability in the context of “fiscal space.” Dr. Orhan Güvenen, the President of Applied Econometrics Association and Founder and Director of the Institute of World Systems, Economies and Strategic Research at Bilkent University, was the third and last speaker of the opening session and explained briefly the theme of the conference.

The first main session with the theme “Nanotechnology” was chaired by Dr. Salim Çıracı of Bilkent University. Dr. Heinrich Rohrer, a Nobel Laureate in Physics, delivered a presentation titled “Nano Science & Technology – a Key to Sustainability.” In his speech, he first analyzed the socio-economic effects of key technological advances of the last few centuries. He then explained the opportunities, uses, and challenges in the area of nanotechnology. The second part of this session was chaired by Tayfun Özçelik of Bilkent University. Three academic researchers, Dr. Murat Günel of Yale University, Dr. Candan Tamerler of University of Washington, and Dr. Mehmet Bayındır of Bilkent University, took the floor in turn to talk about recent developments in nanotechnology.

The second main session with the theme “Informatics” was chaired by Dr. Varol Akman of Bilkent University. The first speaker of this session, Dr. Erol Gelenbe of Imperial College, gave a presentation titled “Towards a Micro-Economic Theory of Networked Auctions.” He first introduced a theoretical framework for web-based computerised auctions and then explained some of the main theoretical results in this area, their interpretations, and applications and uses of these auctions.

Next, Dr. Michel Volle, a system analysis expert from France, took the floor to give a speech on the “Impacts of Informatics on Economic and Financial Crisis.” He explained the socio-economic consequences of computerization in the last century. He also discussed the role of digital technology in the recent global financial crisis. He pointed out that demand does not express needs anymore and that people are forced to buy products they, in fact, do not need. The last speaker of the informatics session was Dr. Murat Tekalp of Koç University. He gave a presentation on “Future 3D Broadcast and Communications over the Internet.”

The second day of the conference focused on the new paradigms in modeling, theory, applications, and quantifications. The first session, which was on “Econometrics and New Paradigms,” was chaired by Dr. Erdem Başçı. In this session, Dr. Mehmet Yörükoğlu, Deputy Governor of the CBRT, delivered a presentation titled “On the Macroeconomic Effects of New Technologies”. In his presentation, Dr. Yörükoğlu focused on the influence of the recent new technologies on global macroeconomic developments.

Next, Dr. Janos Pinter of the Özyeğin University gave a presentation on “Global Optimisation: State-of-the-Art and Selected Applications”. Dr. Pinter firstly introduced the key global optimization (GO) model types and solution strategies in his presentation. He then presented a selection of GO applications including “black box” systems optimization, experimental design, data classification, nonlinear model fitting (calibration, regression).

The last presenter, Mr. John Dryden, Former Deputy for Science, Technology and Industry at the OECD, made a presentation on the theme “Science, Technology, Innovation and Economic Paradigms”. His presentation drew heavily upon the OECD Innovation Strategy, an initiative of the OECD released in early 2010 to develop a broad based policy framework to foster new sources of economic growth and social benefit through innovation. In his presentation, Mr. Dryden highlighted the rationale and thinking behind the policy framework by setting out its main lines. He also underlined the domains that draw on advances in science and technology and implied the significant paradigm change for applied econometrics.

The last session with the theme “New Economic Paradigms” was organized in two consecutive panel discussions. The themes of the panel discussions were the “State-of-art in Science, Transdisciplinarity, Perspectives 2030”, chaired by Dr. Mehmet Sarıkaya of the University of Washington, and “Implications for Economic Paradigms”, chaired by Dr. Erdal Erel of Bilkent University.

For more information on the conference, please visit: http://www.nano.org.tr/aea/