The 2026 SALDRU-ERSA December Workshop on Frontiers in applied economics for developing countries

9 October 2025
Research Programme: Human Capital Policy
Event type: Workshop
Event date: 14 December 2025, 8:00am
to 15 December 2025, 6:00pm

Economic Research Southern Africa (ERSA) and the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU), with co-sponsorship from the African Centre of Excellence for Inequality Research (ACEIR), are pleased to announce the third edition of our annual two-day December Workshop. This workshop brings together leading local and international academics  to present and discuss frontier research in applied economics relevant to developing countries.

The programme will include two keynote addresses:

  • Kaushik Basu (Cornell University; Chief Economist of the World Bank, 2012-2016; Chief Economic Advisor to the Indian government, 2009-2012; President of the International Economic Association, 2017 to 2021).
  • Karthik Sastry (Princeton University; Expertise in technology and development)

Workshop aims and focus:

The aim of the workshop is to encourage overseas-based and local researchers to present and engage with frontier economics research in South Africa. The explicit criterion is empirical work on developing countries that is expected to be published in top international Economics journals (i.e. top field/disciplinary and general interest journals). We will also have a session for PhD students registered at South African universities to present work and receive feedback from participants.

Registration:

To attend the workshop, please complete the registration form below, by 30 November 2026, 5 pm.

Contact information:

Please direct queries to Joshua Budlender (joshua.budlender@uct.ac.za) and cc Fouché Venter (fouche.venter@econrsa.org).

Workshop convenors

  • Joshua Budlender (SALDRU, UCT)
  • Ihsaan Bassier (University of Surrey; SALDRU)
  • Fouche Venter (ERSA Director)

Scientific committee: Joshua Budlender (University of Cape Town), Ihsaan Bassier (University of Surrey), Robert Garlick (Duke University), Susan Godlonton (Williams College), and Steve Koch (ERSA Academic Director, University of Pretoria)

The 2026 SALDRU-ERSA December Workshop on Frontiers in applied economics for developing countries
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Deadline: 30 November 2025
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Participants interested in attending the upcoming SALDRU December Workshop on Frontiers in applied economics for developing countries are invited to register here.

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