Research conference invites papers on firm dynamics and growth
Banca d'Italia, CEPR, EIEF, and the World Bank are organizing a research conference on 'Firm Dynamics, Investment and Aggregate Growth' in Rome on September 17-18, 2026. The conference aims to discuss determinants of firm growth and productivity.
Unpacking the dynamics of firm growth and productivity
The conference aims to bring together leading economists to discuss the multifaceted determinants of firm growth and productivity.
Key areas include the drivers and barriers to firm expansion and efficiency in both advanced and developing economies.
Submissions are encouraged on tangible and intangible capital accumulation and their role in sustaining long-run growth.
Another focus is technology adoption within production networks, examining its implications for firm-level and spatial growth.
The interaction between frontier innovation and its diffusion across firms, sectors, and countries is also a central theme.
Researchers will explore the role of science in technological innovation, technology transfer, and startup creation.
The conference will also address industrial policy design to foster firm growth and aggregate productivity, including the impact of artificial intelligence on firm performance and competitive dynamics.
Global collaboration on economic development and innovation
The conference is a joint initiative of Banca d'Italia, the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), the Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance (EIEF), and the World Bank Institute for Economic Development.
This collaboration aims to foster high-level economic discourse.
Keynote speakers include Benjamin Jones (Kellogg School of Management) and Ufuk Akcigit (University of Chicago).
The call for papers welcomes both empirical and theoretical work, with a focus on submissions advancing measurement and data construction, using sources like linked administrative data, novel indicators, or text and remote-sensing data.
Submissions centered on low and middle-income countries, or by researchers from these regions, are particularly encouraged to ensure diverse perspectives.
Timely focus on critical economic drivers
This conference addresses highly relevant themes at the intersection of micro and macroeconomics, offering a crucial platform for advancing understanding of economic growth.
The emphasis on diverse methodologies and low-income countries ensures a comprehensive and inclusive research agenda.
While a call for papers, its broad scope and prominent organizers signal a significant contribution to future policy discussions.