Understanding the Shifting Landscape of African Economic Development
A joint Conference from the
Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)
and the
Kiel Institute for the World Economy
Africa stands at a critical crossroads where longstanding local challenges such as high population growth, persistent conflict, and governance issues intersect with a fundamental transformation of official development cooperation. As priorities in donor countries shift toward self-interest, traditional financing approaches will have to be complemented with other sources of capital to meet the financing needs of a rapidly growing population. This offers opportunities, such as gaining sovereignty, but also the risk of greater instability. For this year’s Kiel-CEPR African Economic Development Conference, we invite papers that address these important trends, either by examining their determinants, their impacts, or policy solutions that help counteract or mitigate their consequences. The conference will bring together top researchers and policymakers to discuss state-of-the-art research and policy.
This 2-day conference will be hosted at the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development in Berlin, Germany, on November 13-14, 2025. The event is jointly organized by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and CEPR and in collaboration with the African School of Economics (ASE).
Confirmed speakers include Thorsten Beck (EUI and CEPR), Xavier Giné(Worldbank and CEPR), Isaac Mbiti (University of Virginia), Ugo Panizza (Geneva Graduate Institute and CEPR), and Lore Vandewalle (KU Leuven and CEPR).
We invite submissions of papers that study in particular topics related to:
- Official and private development finance or access to capital
- Labor markets, employment, and firms
- Population growth
- Conflict and stability
- Governance
Papers should either focus on African countries or put them in the context of a global study.
The scientific committee consists of Tobias Heidland (Kiel Institute), Robert Lensink (University of Groningen), Lukas Menkhoff (Kiel Institute), Rainer Thiele (Kiel Institute), and Leonard Wantchekon (Princeton, ASE, and CEPR).
HOW TO APPLY
The submission deadline is 17 June, 6PM (CEST), 5PM (BST), 12PM (EST). Authors of accepted papers will be notified by .
Authors who already have a CEPR HUB profile can upload their submission by:
- Going to https://hub.cepr.org/ and logging in
- After you have logged in, go to https://hub.cepr.org/event/4789
- Click on "Step 1: Apply"
- Under "Apply to Attend" click "Yes"
- Tick the boxes that apply to you
- Tick "Would you like to submit a paper?", upload your paper and supply the requested information
- Click "Submit form" to make the submission.
Authors who do not have a CEPR HUB profile can upload their submission by:
- Creating a new profile here https://hub.cepr.org/user/register
- After you have logged in, go to https://hub.cepr.org/event/4789
- Click on "Step 1: Apply"
- Under "Apply to Attend" click "Yes"
- Tick the boxes that apply to you
- Tick "Would you like to submit a paper?", upload your paper and supply the requested information
- Click "Submit form" to make the submission.
Submissions of extended abstracts will be accepted, but clear preference will be given to completed papers. Published papers should have recently appeared or be forthcoming in leading economics journals.
Limited accommodation and travel funding is available for successful applicants. Please indicate your requirements while submitting your paper.
ORGANISERS
Tobias Heidland (Kiel Institute)
Robert Lensink (University of Groningen)
Lukas Menkhoff (Kiel Institute)
Rainer Thiele (Kiel Institute)
Leonard Wantchekon (Princeton, ASE, and CEPR)