MINUTESPRSCO Council Meeting
November 20, 2008
12:20–13:20
Golden Board Room
New York Marriott Hotel at the Brooklyn BridgeBrooklyn, New York USA
In the absence of PRSCO President, David Edgington, the Meeting was called to orderand chaired by PRSCO Vice President, John Madden (ANZRSAI).
(a) Apologies received, roll-call, and confirmation of Section representatives
Apologies received: Jouke van Dijk, Lay Gibson, Jacques Poot, Chitta Ranjan Pthak,P. Nag, Iqbal Zuberi, David Edgington, Peter Batey, Peter Nijkamp, Heinrich vonBaer
Present: Kingsley Haynes (WRSA), Robert Stimson (Past President, RSAI andANZRSAI), Shin Kun Peng (Taiwan), Sam Ock Park (Korea), Roger Stough(WRSA), Graham Clarke (RSAI), Philip McCann (Pacific Editor, Papers), RichardShearmur (Canada), Patricio Aroca (Chile), John Quigley (WRSA), Antoine Bailly(Past President, RSAI), T. John Kim (PRSCO RSAI representative, alternaterepresentative for Korea), Hiroyuki Shibusawa (Japan), Yuzuru Miyata (Japan), John
Madden (ANZRSAI), Yoshiro Higano (PRSCO Executive Director), Roger Stough(WRSA), David Plane (WRSA)(b) Minutes of the PRSCO Council Meeting in Liverpool, August 30, 2008.
On a motion by Haynes, seconded by Patricio Aroca, the Minutes of the August 30
Meeting was approved.
(c) Nomination of PRSCO delegate for the RSAI Council (Term: 2009–2011)
Executive Secretary, Higano reported that term of one of the three PRSCO-appointed
RSAI Councilors would expire at the end of the year. David Edgington has served
the term, 2006–2009. On a motion by T. John Kim, seconded by John Quigley,
Patricio Aroca, SOCHER, was nominated to serve as PRSCO RSAI Councilor for theterm, 2009–2011. The nomination was unanimously approved by Council.
Higano reported that at the end of 2009 his own 2007–2009 term would be expiring,
and, as this was his second term and the RSAI Constitution specifies a six-year term
limit, we will be needing to elect a replacement during 2009 to serve for 2010–2012.
He also noted that T.J. Kim, elected last year, is serving the 2008–2010 term.

2(d) Report on the Organization of the 21st Pacific Conference of the RSAI to be held atthe Conrad Jupiters hotel on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia, July 19–22,
2009.
John Madden gave a brief report, noting that arrangements were moving ahead well,that he is currently working on keynote speakers and special sessions. The website isup and functioning. Everyone is asked to encourage attendance.
(e) Venue of the 11th PRSCO Summer Institute, 2010
Higano reported that discussions were ongoing, and that perhaps Cartagena orMedellin, Colombia, could host the Institute. It was noted that the first RSAmericas
conference was being held in February 2009 in Cartagena. Discussion was held abouta “fallback” venue. It was resolved to keep investigating options, and that aresolution of the matter would be made after further discussion early in 2009.
(f) Venue of the 22nd Pacific Conference, 2011
Higano reported that an offer had been received from India, but that a number ofmatters would need to be cleared before such an offer could be accepted, including
how India becomes integrated into the new RSAI structure. Korea was suggested as apossible backup venue.
(g) Report on activities of Pacific Rim regional science communities
Ongoing developments with respect to the Colombian Association were discussed aswere recent developments in China. With respect to China, Higano reported that hewas still negotiating a date for a forthcoming workshop in the spring, and that he had
set a deadline of the end of the year for the workshop dates to be fixed.
(h) Report of the Pacific Editor, Papers in Regional Science
Philip McCann, Pacific Editor of the Papers gave a short report. He began by notingthat discussions were underway on the renewal of existing Editorial Board members
and the appointment of some new ones with a goal of adding some “new blood.” Hereported that articles published in the journal were now approximately 30 percentfrom North America, 50 percent from Europe, and 20 percent from Asia. Bookreviews, however, are about 50% by North Americans and 50% by Europeans. It has
been a year since Blackwell took over management of the journal from Springer.
Submissions are running ca. 150 to 160 annually. Volume size has increase to over
600 pages, with a forthcoming increase to 900. Acceptance rate is now about 25percent. Early on-line publication has been a very good thing. The editorial process
is being handled in a timely fashion, with 3.9 months the average time to firstdecisions and 2.5 months on average for second-round reviewing. The current
publication lag is approximately 10 months from acceptance to publication. He notedthat only about 10% of the referees used annually are from the Pacific Rim.

3(i) Further business
Bob Stimson requested that at future meetings of the PRSCO Council an agenda itembe added for reporting on activities of the new RSAI journal, Regional Science Policyand Practice.
Next Meeting:Will be held either the evening of the 18th or early morning of the 19th of July inconjunction with the Pacific Conference of the RSAI on the Gold Coast, Queensland,Australia. John Madden will work out the specific date, time, and room location at
the conference venue, the Conrad Jupiters hotel.

(D. Plane, Minute-taker)