EJPE Conference on the Political Economy of Identity, Institutions, and Polarisation

02-04 February 2026 | Davos, Switzerland

It is our great pleasure to present to you the 2026 EJPE Conference on the Political Economy of Identity, Institutions, and Polarisation, organised by the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich with the generous support of the European Journal of Political Economy (EJPE) @ Elsevier. The conference will be held in Davos, Switzerland on 02-04 February 2026.

About the Conference:
We look forward to exploring the theme of Identity, Institutions, and Polarisation — an exploration that promises fresh insights and dynamic conversations.

We are delighted to announce that Ekaterina Zhuravskaya (Paris School of Economics) and Nicola Gennaioli (Bocconi University) will join us as keynote speakers. Both are leading voices in the growing literature on identity and political economy, and their research offers complementary and thought-provoking perspectives on the core themes of this year’s conference.

Zhuravskaya’s influential work examines how ethnic diversity, media narratives, and historical legacies shape social and political polarisation. Her research provides a powerful lens through which to understand the complex interplay between identity, institutional structures, and societal outcomes.

Gennaioli’s recent work explores how the activation of voters’ economic or cultural identities influences political attitudes and polarisation. His experimental approach provides rich insights into the psychological and behavioural underpinnings of political conflict, and how these dynamics interact with institutional and economic factors.

Together, their contributions will provide a compelling intellectual framework for the workshop, anchoring discussions on Identity, Institutions, and Polarisation and inspiring new avenues for research.

We invite submissions from economists and political scientists working on these issues in different contexts and using a variety of methodological approaches. Potential contributions may address, but are not limited to:

• The role of identity in shaping behaviour, preferences, or beliefs
• Institutional responses to social, cultural, or political polarisation
• Media and information flows in fragmented societies
• Historical roots and long-term consequences of identity-based divisions
• Identity and group dynamics in economic, political, or social outcomes
• Intersections of identity with inequality, geography, or governance

The workshop aims to foster exchange and welcomes contributions from political economy, economics, political science and related disciplines.

Guide for Authors:
Authors are encouraged to submit their latest research in line with the conference broader theme and topics of interest.

Please send your paper to ejpe2026@kof.ethz.ch for submission.

Important Dates:
Deadline for submission: 15. October 2025 Notification of acceptance: 15. November 2025 Deadline for final paper submission: 15. January 2026

Scientific Committee:
The Scientific Committee is composed by Vincenzo Galasso (Bocconi University, EJPE and CEPR), Johanna Rickne (Stockholm University, EJPE and CEPR), Thomas Stratmann (George Mason and EJPE) and Jan-Egbert Sturm (ETH Zurich and EJPE).

We look forward to your submission and to a valuable discourse that will shape the future of Political Economy.