Presentation

Research in Economics is a series of international conferences organized by Italian junior researchers in order to gather international PhD students and few keynote speakers and discuss major "foundational" issues in economics. At the same time young scholars are given the opportunity of presenting their research works with a particular emphasis on the methodological implications of their research.

The theme of the conference is: to what extent is economics an empirically disciplined science?

We would like to reappraise Herbert Simon's concern about the capacity of economic methods and models to grasp any features of the real world. The issues of 'realism' and 'empirically grounded research' have never faded. In particular, the recent growing availability of data has favoured the collection of facts potentially challenging the hypotheses and the predictions of proposed theories. Leading scholars in various fields will be discussing the relations between theory and empirics in economics starting from their experience as researchers. The conference will alternate two sessions. In a first plenary session this theme will be addressed from a macroeconomic point of view, while in a second session from a microeconomic one. In the parallel sessions PhD students will present their works, followed by comments by senior discussants.

This edition of the conference will host also a round table dedicated to The Future of European Graduate Education in Economics. The issues we will address are: How can Europe attract the best PhD students?; 2) Is there a common trend toward strengthening graduate economics teaching in European Universities?; 3) Do different institutional features of European Universities (within Europe and vis-a-vis the US) represent a constraint or an opportunity?; 4) Which European Job Market for European doctors in Economics?

The PhD Conference also hosts a methodological workshop organized by "Debating.it". Debating.it brings together sceptical though optimist scholars who share a critical view about how economic research is currently carried on and endorse the role of methodological debate in the scientific progress. For more information check here.

Invited Speakers

• Eric Bartelsman, Free University Amsterdam

• Massimo Bordignon, Catholic University Milan

• Giulio Bottazzi, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies

• Domenico Delli Gatti, Catholic University Milan

• Giovanni Dosi, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies

• Carlo Favero, Bocconi University

• Marco Lippi, University of Rome "La Sapienza"

• Luigi Marengo, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies

• Ramon Marimon, Pompeu Fabra University

• Fulvio Ortu, Bocconi University