MPI / ECONtribute Workshop on Human Capital and Education

ECONtribute and the Max-Planck-Institute are pleased to announce the MPI / ECONtribute Workshop on Human Capital and Education, which will take place on October 1 – 2, 2026, in Bonn.

The workshop will bring together leading and early-career researchers to discuss cutting-edge research in the economics of education and related fields. To foster in-depth exchange, the workshop will feature a limited number of presenting participants and include a poster session aimed particularly at local and affiliated researchers.

We are especially delighted to welcome Cristian (Kiki) Pop-Eleches (Columbia University) as the keynote speaker.

Topics

The workshop will feature research on the economics of education and human capital, broadly defined, including topics such as:

• the formation, allocation, and returns to skills,
• inequality of opportunity,
• educational production processes in families, schools, and networks,
• the role of public policy and technological change, including artificial intelligence.

Contact and Organizers

Palaash Bhargava (University of Chicago / MPI)

Ingo E. Isphording (MPI)

Pia Pinger (University of Cologne, ECONtribute)

Sebastian Riedmiller (MPI)

For clarifications and questions, please feel free to reach out to us at education-ws@econ.mpg.de.