Economic Research Southern Africa (ERSA) and the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) hosted the December Workshop on Frontiers in Applied Economics for Developing Countries.
This in-person two-day workshop brought together academics, policymakers, and experts to present and discuss frontier research in applied economics relevant to developing countries. The event provided a platform for internationally based researchers to share cutting-edge work in South Africa, and for local researchers and PhD students to engage, exchange ideas, and present their own research.
Keynote Speakers
Joseph Kaboski – University of Notre Dame
His research spans growth, development, and international economics, with a focus on structural change, finance, education, and trade. A recipient of the prestigious Frisch Medal in 2012, his work has appeared in the American Economic Review, Econometrica, and the Journal of the European Economic Association. He is an Associate Editor at the Journal of Human Capital, with affiliations to STEG (Co-Academic Lead) and NBER.
Taryn Dinkelman —University of Notre Dame and SALDRU Affiliate
A development economist whose research explores labour markets and human capital, focusing on the barriers to participation and earnings—especially for women. Her work spans Botswana, Chile, India, Malawi, and South Africa, and she is associated with STEG (theme leader), NBER, SALDRU, BREAD, CEPR, IZA, and J-PAL.
Workshop Format
The research committee selected 12 outstanding papers to feature in the programme, with 40 minute presentations designed to allow for in-depth discussion over two days. A dedicated PhD session also featured emerging scholars. The workshop fostered a vibrant network of leading local and international researchers, with speakers and attendees confirmed from top global institutions (e.g. UCL, Harvard, Chicago, Duke) as well as from all 13 South African universities that submitted papers.
Focus Areas
This year’s workshop received over 200 submissions in response to the call for papers. The selected studies span a diverse range of themes, including:
- Production: Technology, Infrastructure, and Structural Transformation
- Labour: Education, Migration, and Informality
- Social Outcomes: Inequality, Financial Inclusion, and Cash transfers
The programme highlights applied research with strong empirical design, featuring a balance of randomised controlled trials and natural experiments. Study contexts are drawn exclusively from the Global South, with several papers on South Africa, alongside others from Kenya, Togo, Tanzania, Rwanda, and India.
