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LJE

8th International Conference on Applied Development Economics

17 – 19 August 2026 · Lahore, Pakistan

Eighth International Conference on Applied Development Economics

Hosted by the Centre for Research in Economics and Business (CREB) and the Innovation and Technology Center (ITC) at the Lahore School of Economics, in collaboration with the International Growth Centre Pakistan (IGC) and the Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR).

About the Conference

The Centre for Research in Economics and Business (CREB) and the Innovation and Technology Center (ITC) at the Lahore School of Economics are pleased to host the Eighth Annual International Conference on Applied Development Economics, taking place from 17–19 August 2026 on the Lahore School's Main Campus. Now in its eighth year, this flagship conference brings together researchers, policymakers, and institutions from around the world to advance development economics with real policy relevance.

This year's conference continues to:

  • Showcase innovative research with strong policy relevance, particularly for sustainable growth in developing economies.
  • Support early-career researchers through feedback, mentorship, and presentation opportunities.
  • Foster academic exchange and build networks among researchers, policymakers, and institutions committed to development.

Plenary Speakers

This year's conference features keynote addresses from four distinguished economists:

DY
Day 1 · 17 August, 10:15 AM

Dean Yang

University of Michigan
"Abundance from Abroad: International Migration and the Developing World"

Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the University of Michigan, a Research Associate at NBER, Senior Fellow at BREAD, Affiliated Professor at J-PAL, and founding President of the International Development Economics Association. His research spans international migration, microfinance, health, education, and the economics of disasters.

AC
Day 1 · 17 August, 2:00 PM

Azam Chaudhry

Lahore School of Economics
"Why Firms Wait: Two Decades of Experiments on Market Failures and Industrial Policy in Pakistan"

Professor of Economics and Dean of the Economics Faculty at the Lahore School, with a B.Sc. from LSE (UK) and an M.A./Ph.D. from Brown University. Formerly with the World Bank, his research covers international trade, macroeconomics, innovation, and economic growth.

SB
Day 2 · 18 August, 10:00 AM

Sheheryar Banuri

University of East Anglia
"De-risking Policy"

Associate Professor of Economics at the University of East Anglia and By-Fellow at Hughes Hall, Cambridge. A former World Bank economist and co-author of the World Development Report 2015, his work uses behavioural experiments to study governance and public service delivery.

ZS
Day 3 · 19 August, 10:00 AM

Zahra Siddique

University of Bristol
"Weather Shocks, Marriage Timing and the Lives of Women in the Developing World"

Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Bristol and a LUMS graduate. Her research on gender, labour markets, and violence against women has appeared in the Review of Economics and Statistics, among other leading journals.

Thematic Sessions

Six sessions across three days explore a wide range of critical development themes:

I

Shocks, Educational Opportunities and Development

Day 1 · 17 August, 11:30 AM  ·  Chair: Naved Hamid

II

Gender, Assets and Economic Outcomes

Day 1 · 17 August, 3:15 PM  ·  Chair: Hamna Ahmed

III

Behavioural Responses to Conflict and Crime

Day 2 · 18 August, 11:30 AM  ·  Chair: Zunia Saif

IV

Governance and Institutional Reforms

Day 2 · 18 August, 2:00 PM  ·  Chair: Waqar Wadho

V

Gender and Labour Markets

Day 3 · 19 August, 11:15 AM  ·  Chair: Zahra Siddique

VI

Behavioural Responses to Information and Climate

Day 3 · 19 August, 2:15 PM  ·  Chair: Naved Hamid

Featuring Research From

Albena Sotirova — Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam & AIGHD
Awais Ali — Pakistan Institute of Development Economics
Azam Chaudhry — Lahore School of Economics
Bezawit Adugna Bahru — University of Hohenheim & CEGA
Dagmara Celik Katreniak — City St George's, University of London
Dean Yang — University of Michigan
Farah Said — Lahore University of Management Sciences
Hadia Majid — Lahore University of Management Sciences
Hamna Ahmed — Lahore School of Economics
Harmalah Khan — Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan
Humoyun Abdumavlon — University of Pittsburgh
Kate Vyborny — World Bank
Muhammad Haseeb — University of Bristol
Noman Ahmad — University of Georgia
Rida Ali Khan — CERDI, Université Clermont Auvergne
Saqib Hussain — KDI School of Public Policy and Management
Sheheryar Banuri — University of East Anglia
Sonia Jan Alam — University of Reading
Waqar Wadho — Lahore School of Economics
Zahra Siddique — University of Bristol
Zubaria Andlib — Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology
Zunia Saif Tirmazee — Lahore School of Economics

Conference Materials

Venue & RSVP

Venue

Main Campus, Lahore School of Economics
Intersection Main Boulevard, Phase VI, DHA and Burki Road, Lahore, Pakistan

Phone

92-42-36560935, 36560937, 36560938, 36560939
Exchange: 92-42-36560936

RSVP

Ms. Zenab Naseem: creb.lahore@gmail.com
Ms. Zainab Idrees: creb@lahoreschool.edu.pk

Website

www.lahoreschoolofeconomics.edu.pk