Cologne FRESH Meeting 2023: Historical Political Economy and Long-run Development

Political economy has recently been described as the methodology of economics applied to the analysis of political behavior and institutions. Using history as a laboratory to contribute to political-economic theory and empirics has proven immensely valuable. This encompasses the use of historical data to study
institutions and human behavior in the historical context but also to assess the validity of theories in economics and political sciences.

The purpose is to create the opportunity for graduate students and early stage researchers to present and discuss their work in an environment especially focused on constructive feedback and support. Sascha Becker, Xiaokai Yang Chair of Business and Economics at Monash University will hold the keynote.

The meeting welcomes economic and social historians, political scientists, and scholars from related disciplines with a shared interest for causal inference using historical data, inviting papers from a broad range of topics, especially those connected to the broad theme of the workshop.

Potential paper topics include:
• Historical political economy and institutional change
• Labor economics, especially discrimination, migration, and education
• Innovation and technical change
• Culture and religion
• Violence and conflict
• Urban economics and transportation
• Environmental and energy economics
• Causal inference using text-as-data and spatial data

Paper submission:
Researchers interested in presenting should send an abstract of max. 500 words or a full paper, as well as a brief (1–2 page) CV to fresh2023@wiso.uni-koeln.de.

Early career scholars and researchers from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the academy are especially encouraged to apply. We offer hotel accommodation and meals and will subsidize travel expenses for all presenters.

Important dates:

10 February 2023: Deadline for submissions
10 March 2023: Presenters will be notified of acceptance
24-25. May 2023: Conference at the University of Cologne

This meeting is organized by Erik Hornung in association with the Frontier Research in Economic and Social History series (FRESH-organizer Sandra de Pleijt). For more information about the FRESH meeting, please
visit their website.

24.05. - 25.05.2023

Research Event

Erik Hornung

Professor of Economic History

M fresh2023@wiso.uni-koeln.de