Conference Procedures

SUBMIT PROPOSALS: To propose your paper for the conference, please visit the Submit Paper tab here on the PCS website starting September 1. Presenting authors will initially submit just the title and abstract of their papers. The submission deadline is November 1. The conference selection committee will review proposals and notify authors by December 1. If your paper is selected for the program, you are asked to upload the complete draft of your paper no later than February 28. Following Public Choice Society tradition, all presenting authors also serve as Discussant on another paper presented during the same session.

PAPER PRESENTERS: If you are presenting a paper (as opposed to presenting on a panel discussion), please upload a PDF file of your paper no later than February 16. Papers will not be searchable and are viewable only by PCS members while logged into the website. You will have the option of leaving your paper for the conference archives or taking it down at the end of the conference. The Society retains no rights or privileges to work presented or posted here. To upload your paper, simply log in to the site and browse to the My Account section where you will find the paper upload tool.

CHAIR DUTIES: If you are chairing a paper session, please check to see that presenters on your session have uploaded their papers no later than February 16. Session Chairs are also responsible for establishing and enforcing time allocations. With four papers per 90 minute session, chairs should use good judgment to allocate the available time to presenter and discussants while leaving some time for floor discussion. A baseline is 15 minutes per presenter, 5 minutes per discussant, and 10 minutes for floor discussion.

DISCUSSANT DUTIES: In most cases, each presenter is also a discussant on the same session. Please locate the paper you are discussing on the PCS website by February 16. Prepare critical and constructive comments in advance, and aim your remarks so as to promote rigorous yet collegial discussion during the session.

ORGANIZED SESSIONS: If you would like to propose an entire organized session, please contact the Society President who will reply with criteria and instructions. Program space for organized sessions may be limited.

MEETING ROOM SETUP: Each concurrent session will take place in a hotel meeting room, equipped with a podium, screen, and projector for laptop hookup. There is a limited number of WiFi connections available to PCS attendees in the meeting room space.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION: Conference registration is $240 for students and $295 for non-students if received by the regular registration deadline (February 6), after which the rates increase by $75. Individuals who present multiple papers are asked to submit $25 per additional paper. To submit your registration payment, or to confirm that you have paid, simply log in to your account and view the information presented in the My Account area.

STUDENT FELLOWS PROGRAM: Subject to funding, we are able to offer a limited number of graduate students with financial assistance to present a paper at the Annual Meetings. Eligibility requires current standing in a recognized graduate degree program and either: 1) submit a paper proposal through the Society website, in accordance with the procedures and deadlines in the online Call for Papers; or 2) be invited to present a paper on an organized session. After the paper submission deadline, the PCS office will contact eligible recipients to request a short letter from their adviser or chair.

CANCELLATION POLICY: If for some regrettable reason you must cancel then your registration payment will be refunded according to the following schedule: full refund if cancellation notice is received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 20; 50% refund if received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 20; no refund if received by 12:00 a.m. on February 21 or later. Use the Contact Form at the top right of the website to email the PCS office with "Registration Cancellation" in the subject line and a brief explanation in the email body.

EXHIBITORS: Publishers and other organizations are invited to exhibit! Please reach us at the Contact link above. We will reply with information about the exhibit space, shipping, and all other details you will need.

Hotel Information

The PCS Conference rate is $209 plus tax for single/double occupancy. The deadline is February 5 at 5:00 PM Eastern. Space is limited! Please book your room early. While reserving your room, please note the hotel's cancellation and check-in policies.

Reserve your room online using code PUBLIC2018, or by phone at +1-843-722-0600 using group name Public Choice Society.

The Francis Marion Hotel is located in downtown Charleston at 387 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403. Telephone: +1-843-722-1600.

Visitor and Transportation Info

Getting to Charleston is quite easy, as Charleston International Airport is serviced by all major airlines with connecting flights from over 10 hub cities. The airport is a 15-20 minute ride to the hotel.

Center for Public Choice and Market Process at CofC
Sponsor of a Continental Breakfast

The BB&T Distinguished Professorship of Capitalism at WCU
Sponsor of AV Equipment at General Sessions

Institute for Humane Studies
Sponsor of a Reception & Printed Program

Springer
Sponsor of the Gordon Tullock Prize

The Tommy and Victoria Baker School of Business at The Citadel
Sponsor of 2018 Breakfasts and 2014 Opening Reception

The College of Charleston School of Business
Local Host University for 2018 Annual Meetings

Center for Study of Public Choice at GMU
Sponsor of a Graduate Student

F.A. Hayek Program at Mercatus Center at GMU
Sponsor of a Coffee Break & Printed Program

Duke PPE Program
Sponsor of a Coffee Break & Printed Program

Duke Political Science Department
2018 Plenary Session Sponsor

The William E. Simon Professorship of Political Economy at Lafayette College
W. Mark Crain, Chair

Annual Sponsor