3rd International Congress on Regional Development Policies: Proceedings Book

This edited volume brings together the full papers presented at the 3rd International Congress on Regional Development Policies, hosted by Gaziantep University, Türkiye, in September 2026. Its forty-four chapters, contributed by researchers from Türkiye, Syria, the Gulf region, North Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia, address a shared question: how can balanced, sustainable and inclusive development be achieved across neighbouring economies, and which policies are needed to support the reconstruction of the Syrian economy? The contributions are organised around five interrelated themes. The first concerns regional development and spatial disparities, including place-based policy, free zones, dry ports, cross-border trade and the future of Türkiye–Syria economic relations. The second examines public finance and macroeconomic stability, covering government accounting, fiscal deficits, public debt sustainability, debt-for-nature swaps, exchange-rate volatility and trade balances. The third focuses on Islamic, green and inclusive finance as instruments for reconstruction financing and financial stability. The fourth explores digital transformation, artificial intelligence and information security in accounting, auditing, higher education, energy security and humanitarian organisations. The fifth addresses human capital, labour markets, the economics of education, social protection, governance and institutional performance in conflict-affected settings. Drawing on econometric modelling, scenario analysis, field surveys and comparative policy review, the volume offers evidence-based insights and policy recommendations for academics, policymakers, development practitioners and international organisations engaged in regional development and post-conflict economic recovery.