Reconnoitring the significance of African Economic Thought: Past, Present, and Future

The Young Scholars Initiative in partnership with Gerda Henkel Foundation and Kenyatta University proposes to hold a one-day pre-conference workshop to discuss the past, present and future debates with regards to Africa’s history of economic thought and economic development in Africa.  The workshop will invite experienced researchers and scholars to discuss  the history of economic thinking and future trajectories on the development of the African continent. Focus will be prioritized on PhD students and early career researchers focusing on economic thinking and development in Africa. Another important element that will be addressed by the workshop is to forge synergies and networks between  students and practitioners. It is envisioned that this type of relationship will go beyond the scope of the pre-conference workshop to foster collaborations, partnerships and coordination for future endeavours in research and development in Africa.

The workshop is targeting 10 postgraduate students and 10 early career researchers and practitioners in Kenya. 10 of the selected participants will be fully funded by YSI. The objectives of this workshop neatly dovetail with the vision and mission of the Young Scholars Initiative in networking for the purpose of answering economic questions and inculcating skills in young scholars. The YSI History of Economic Thought Group seeks to create a vibrant platform that contributes to debates on the history of economic thinking and development of Africa, within the broader context of its history and social space, using various approaches. This workshop will be the inaugural YSI workshop in Kenya and intended to increase the visibility of the YSI in East Africa, especially Kenya that has not had an opportunity to be integrated into YSI activities.

Objectives:

1. To provide a platform for scholars and early career researchers to present and discuss their research on different schools of economic thought, including classical, neoclassical, and ecological economics.

2. To facilitate dialogue between economic and development practitioners and scholars to explore interdisciplinary approaches to economic analysis.

3. To examine the historical development of economic thought and its impact on policy-making, economic systems, and societal well-being.

4. To explore emerging trends and new perspectives in economic thought, such as the role of technology, globalization, sustainability, inequality, and behavioural economics.

5. To encourage networking and collaboration among participants, fostering the exchange of ideas and potential research partnerships.

Conference Structure:

The pre-conference will span over a period of one day and consist of a keynote speech, panel discussions, paper presentations, and individual presentations. We envision the following morning and afternoon theme sessions:

1. Historical Perspectives on Economic Thought: Examining the evolution of economic thought from ancient civilizations to modern times.

2. Contemporary Schools of Economic Thought: – Presenting and discussing different schools of economic thought and their theoretical foundations and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches and their relevance in today’s economic landscape.

3. Interdisciplinary Approaches to Economic Analysis: Exploring the integration of economics with other social sciences to address complex economic issues and the potential benefits and challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration.

4. Emerging Trends and Future Directions: Identifying emerging trends and new perspectives in economic thought. Deliberating the implications of technological advancements, globalization, sustainability, and inequality on economic theory and practice.

5. Policy Implications and Real-World Applications: Examining the practical implications of economic thought on policy-making (This includes showcasing case studies and real-world applications of economic theories in different contexts in Africa.

Call for Papers:

We invite early career researchers and scholars to submit abstracts of not more than 300 words related to the pre-conference themes stated above. Abstracts should be sent no later than 2 March 2024 to [email protected]. Selected participants  will be informed by 15 March 2024.

Selected abstracts will be presented during the pre-conference, and a special issue of a reputable journal will be suggested and dedicated to publishing (full papers) of the conference proceedings.

For more information get in touch with event organisers

Organisers

Vuyisile Moyo             [email protected]