Santander conference fosters research-policy dialogue in Spain
The Banco de España, CEMFI, and UIMP annually organize the Santander conference to foster dialogue between economic research and policymaking in Spain. This event provides a crucial forum for testing and debating rigorous analysis.
A Forum for Rigorous Debate
The Banco de España, in partnership with CEMFI and the Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo (UIMP), annually hosts the Conference on the Spanish Economy in Santander.
This event serves as a crucial platform to connect rigorous economic research with policymaking.
Since its first edition in 2022, the conference has established itself as a forum for analysis and debate, combining academic sessions with dedicated discussions on economic policy.
Leading international researchers present invited papers, which are then rigorously discussed.
Panel discussions further facilitate dialogue, comparing theoretical findings with the practical experience of policymakers.
The conference's impact extends through the publication of these papers in a special issue of SERIEs – Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, making the findings available to a specialist audience.
Housing, Institutions, and High-Level Talks
The Banco de España's long-standing commitment to economic research underpins its policy analysis, with events like the Santander conference highlighting the unique value of in-person dialogue.
These gatherings foster informal exchanges that often lead to crucial insights beyond formal sessions.
The fifth edition, held on 2-3 July 2026, addresses the timely theme of 'Housing and Institutions: Challenges and Opportunities for Spain.'
Its program includes technical sessions on housing supply, regulation, and institutional quality.
Panel discussions will address current housing market challenges and the evolution of economic institutions over 50 years of democracy.
A notable opening event is a conversation between the Governor of the Banco de España and the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
Essential, yet still niche
While the Santander conference effectively bridges research and policy, its impact remains largely confined to a specialist audience.
The publication in SERIEs, though valuable, does not fully translate complex findings into broader public understanding.
For true societal impact, the Banco de España could explore more accessible dissemination formats beyond academic journals.