Call for papers: Quantifying the Long Run History of Africa

Conference to be held at the University of Manchester

Arthur Lewis Lab Conference #4

Part of the CEPR Economic History programme. With support from the ESRC New Investigator Grant, “Measuring the Great Divergence: A study of global standards of living, 1500-1950”, and the Arthur Lewis Lab for Comparative Development, University of Manchester.

Dates:

October 27 and 28, 2023

Note: This conference is expected to take place offline only.

Conference title:

Quantifying the Long Run History of Africa

Opening address:

Leigh Gardner (London School of Economics)

Keynote speakers:

Jutta Bolt (University of Groningen), Marlous van Waijenburg (Harvard University), Leonard Wantchekon (Princeton University), Jacob Weisdorf (University of Rome, Sapienza)

Closing address:

Gareth Austin (University of Cambridge)

Roundtable:

Has History condemned Africa to be poor?

Conference organizers:

Hélder Carvalhal, Jordi Caum, and Nuno Palma, Unversity of Manchester.

Conference theme:

We plan to accept papers that cover all periods of African economic history, but with a focus on the period prior to 1950.

Social visit

On the morning of the day after the conference, there will be an optional visit to the Whitworth Art Gallery followed by an informal lunch at the Curry Mile.

Costs and funding:

There will be no conference fee. We have secured ESRC funding which will cover catering costs and dinner, as well as travel and accommodation costs for graduate students who do not have funds from their own institutions. We expect presenters to be a mix of junior and senior scholars. Pending on other ongoing funding applications, we may be able to fund additional benefits for those who need this in order to attend. However, it is unlikely that we will be able to fund full travel and accommodation costs for all participants. Tenured faculty, in particular, will be expected to cover their travel and accommodation costs.

Accommodation

We suggest Hyatt Regency as the accommodation in-campus. For those looking for budget accommodation, we suggest Luther King House.

Deadlines:

September 11 – deadline to send us a paper proposal

September 25 – we will communicate the accepted proposals (and possibly a waiting list)

October 16 – final program will be posted

For applications, please email a paper proposal to Nuno Palma. You can apply with only a title and abstract, but complete manuscripts have a higher chance to get accepted into the program. A poster session may also take place. Applications by PhD students are encouraged.