YSI Workshop: Innovation, Economic Complexity and Economic Geography

In collaboration with the Collective Learning Group at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Aug 5–7, 2018 Download .ics

 MIT Media Lab |

The workshop aims to bring together experienced researchers with young scholars in the fields of Innovation, Economic Complexity and Economic Geography to understand knowledge accumulation and spillovers through products, people and places. Those interested in interdisciplinary research, especially bridging a gap between these topics are strongly encouraged to apply. 

The event will consist of lectures delivered four distinguished scholars: Prof. Cesar Hidalgo (MIT Media Lab), Prof. Adam Jaffe (Brandeis), Prof. Siqi Zheng (MIT Urban Planning) and Mercedes Delgado (MIT Sloan). Complementary to the workshops there will also be young scholar presentations where the invited speakers will provide feedback in their respective relevant sessions. The targeted audience for presentations consists of graduate students, PhD candidates and Postdocs, also members of international organizations with professional interests related to innovation, economic complexity and economic geography.

Selected applicants will be provided with travel and accommodation stipend. 


Call for Papers

Paper Submission Topics: 

The workshop welcomes contributions from any field in economics and related disciplines, which address (but are not limited to) the following issues in particular:

1. Innovation

  • Mapping Innovation: regional, entrepreneurship and firm organization
  • Measuring Innovation with patent data
  • Inclusive innovation

2. Economic Complexity

  • Applications of economic complexity beyond the product space
  • Measuring knowledge through networks

3. Economic Geography

  • Urbanization and economic growth
  • Infrastructure and its effect on the local economy

Submission Deadlines:

  • Submission of abstracts (500 words): June 10, 2018
  • Submission of applications for travel stipends: June 10, 2018
  • Notification of acceptance: July 1, 2018
  • Notification regarding travel stipends:  July 1, 2018
  • Submission of full papers: July 29, 2018

Travel and Accommodation:

Limited travel and accommodation stipends will be awarded on the basis of merit and need for select papers. If you indicate the need for travel support, please include a brief motivation (we are interested in your thoughts on new economic thinking, how the workshop may benefit you and your research, and whether you’ve had any previous engagement with YSI). 

Questions concerning this call may be sent to

[email protected] 
[email protected]