Hosted by: Economic Research South Africa (ERSA), International Growth Centre (IGC) and the World Bank.
Overview:
Join us for a two-day workshop focused on urban and regional economics in emerging economies of the Global South, with a focus on Africa. This Winter School aims to stimulate interest and deepen understanding of the economic dynamics of cities and urbanisation among young scholars and practitioners across Africa.
Objectives:
- To foster interest in urban and regional economic research among postgraduate students, early-career researchers, and practitioners in Africa.
- To enhance awareness of the methods and scope of urban economics, particularly in the context of the Global South.
Preliminary Workshop Programme:
Day 1
| Start | End | Description | Speakers |
| 08:45 | 09:00 | Welcome | Fouché Venter (Economic Research Southern Africa) |
| 09:00 | 10:15 | Contemporary urbanisation in Africa | Ivan Turok (University of the Free State) |
| 10:15 | 10:45 | Tea | |
| 10:45 | 12:00 | Urban Labour Markets | Andrew Kerr (SALDRU, University of Cape Town) |
| 12:00 | 13:15 | The Dynamics of Firms in Cities | Justin Visagie (Human Sciences Research Council) |
| 13:15 | 14:15 | Lunch | |
| 14:15 | 15:30 | Land Issues in African Cities | Harris Selod (World Bank) |
| 15:30 | 16:00 | Tea | |
| 16:00 | 17:15 | Housing and Finance | Allan Davids (University of Cape Town) |
| 17:30 | 20:00 | Networking Event |
Day 2
| Start | End | Description | Speakers |
| 08:45 | 09:00 | Opening Remarks | Victoria Delbridge (International Growth Centre |
| 09:00 | 10:15 | Transportation | Gabriel Kreindler (Harvard University) |
| 10:15 | 10:45 | Tea | |
| 10:45 | 12:00 | Infrastructure and Service Delivery | Matthew Turner (Brown University) |
| 12:00 | 13:15 | Cities and the Environment | Kelsey Jack (UC Berkeley) |
| 13:15 | 14:15 | Lunch | |
| 14:15 | 15:30 | Spatial Methods and Models | Nick Tsivanidis (UC Berkeley) |
| 15:30 | 16:00 | Tea | |
| 16:00 | 17:15 | Urbanisation and Development | Ed Glaeser (Harvard University) |
| 17:15 | 17:30 | Conference closing and Feedback | Ivan Turok (University of the Free State) |
Who Should Apply:
- Target Audience:
- PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers (full- or part-time) and master’s students.
- Practitioners with relevant experience in urban policy or related fields.
- Selection Criteria:
- Interest in urban and regional economics demonstrated through on-going research/policy experience or future research/career plans.
- Preference for applicants with at least masters-level quantitative training or expertise.
Interested applicants are requested to register by completing the registration form below. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the workshop is full, with a final deadline of 28 February 2025 if capacity is not reached sooner. Application decisions will be communicated by Friday, 14 March.
Participant Support
- Funding will be provided to support domestic travel and accommodation for workshop attendees from South African institutions. There is a possibility that funding will be available for international students.
- Students are also encouraged to attend the 9th Urbanisation and Development Conference on 11-12 June 2025. Accommodation will be organised and funded for the duration of the conference for sponsored students.
For more information and registration details, contact Claudine Tshabalala (claudine@econrsa.org).
We look forward to receiving your applications and welcoming you to an engaging and insightful workshop on urban and regional economics in Africa!
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