Center for Economic Research & Graduate Education - Economics Institute

Annual Conferences

The GDN’s annual conferences provide the venue for an exciting exchange on issues of sustainable development and poverty reduction held each year in a different region of the world. By bringing together both researchers and policymakers, we provide the first step in facilitating greater exchanges between local policymakers and the local research we support. The annual conference brings a global perspective on current development debates.

GDN conferences are typically by invitation. Participants include Nobel Laureates and other internationally renowned researchers, researchers representing every region in the developing and transition world, heads of government, representatives of national and international organizations and sponsors of research.


The Thirteenth Global Development Network Conference will be held in Budapest, Hungary, on 16-18 June 2012 and is being hosted by Central European University. The conference's theme will be "Urbanization and Development: Delving Deeper into the Nexus". More information about the conference can be found here on the GDN website.

The Twelfth Global Development Network Conference was held in Bogotá, Colombia, on 13-15 January 2011 and was hosted by Universidad de los Andes. The conference's theme was "Financing Development in a Post-Crisis World: The Need for a Fresh Look". More information about the conference along with session blogs and video clips are all available here on the GDN website.

The Eleventh Global Development Network Conference, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, the City of Prague, and CERGE-EI, was held on 16–18 January 2010 in Prague, Czech Republic, with the theme "Regional and International Integration: Quo Vadis?". More information, including the conference program, session blogs, and downloadable material, is available on the GDN website.

The Tenth Global Development Network Conference, with the support of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), was held in Kuwait City, Kuwait from 3–5 February 2009. The theme of the conference was "Natural Resources and Development". More information, including the conference program, session blogs, and downloadable material, is available on the GDN website.

The Ninth Global Development Network Conference was held in Brisbane, Australia from 29–31 January 2008. The theme of the conference was "Security for Development: Confronting Threats to Survival and Safety". Full details can be found here.

The Eighth Global Development Network Conference was held in Beijing, China on 14–16 January 2007. The theme of the conference was "The Emergence of Asia: Implications for Global Development". Full details can be found here.

The Seventh Global Development Network Conference, "Institutions and Development: At the Nexus of Global Change", was held in St. Petersburg, Russia, on 19–21 January 2006. Just prior to this meeting, Dr Boris Vujcic (Vice-Governor, Croatian National Bank) was elected East European regional representative, replacing Professor Jan Kmenta, who finished his term in 2005. Click here for more information on the Governing Board and Dr Vujcic. Full details of the conference can be found here.

The Sixth Global Development Network Conference, "Developing & Developed Worlds: Mutual Impact", was held in Dakar, Senegal, on 24–26 January 2005. Full details can be found here.

The Fifth Global Development Network Conference, "Understanding Reform", was held in New Delhi, India, on 28–30 January 2004. Full details can be found here.

The Fourth Global Development Network Conference, "Globalization and Equity", was held in Cairo, Egypt, on 19–21 January 2003. Full details can be found here.

The Third annual Global Development Network Conference, titled "Blending Local and Global Knowledge", took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 9–14 December 2001. Further details and documents can be found here.

The Second annual Global Development Network Conference, titled "Beyond Economics: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Development", was held on 11–13 December 2000 in Tokyo, Japan. Further information about this conference is available from the dedicated GDN website including the selection of a new Governing Board. Professor Jan Kmenta, a distinguished academic well-known for his work in the field of econometrics, was elected East European regional representative. Click here for more information on Professor Kmenta.

The First Annual Global Development Network Conference, titled "Bridging Knowledge and Policy", took place in Bonn, Germany, on 5–8 December 1999. Further details and documents can be found here.