Inclusive Economies for a Just and Sustainable Planet

Where: University of the Andes, Bogota, Colombia

When: June 5 to 8, 2024

What is the Summer Institute: “Inclusive economies for a Just and Sustainable planet”?

Transitioning towards a more just and sustainable planet requires new ways of thinking and doing research on economics and economic development policy. The Summer lnstitute in Inclusive Economies for a Just and Sustainable Planet will provide a space to advance interdisciplinary and policy-relevant research that supports more inclusive, equitable and sustainable economic systems.

The Summer lnstitute is a four-day program that will bring together 42 participants from the Global North and South to discuss new ways of thinking in economics and economic development policy. There will be in-depth presentations and discussions structured around the tour following themes:

1. Architecture and Inequality: Repurposing Housing, Infrastructure and Cities for Economic Inclusion.
2. Nurturing the Commons Place-based and Solidarity Approaches for a Just Planet.
3. Measuring lnequality Economic Exclusion as a social determinant of health.
4. Feminist Approaches to Economics and the Care Economy.

The final day will provide an opportunity for participants to reflect on connections between the tapies discussed and to explore potential of collaborations in the future. By fostering dialogue and collaboration across disciplines and types of participants, we hope to contribute to the advancement of research and policy knowledge towards building more inclusive and sustainable economies worldwide.

The Summer lnstitute is co-organized by the TREES (Teaching and Researching Equitable Economics from the South) initiative at University of the Andes and the lnstitute for Inclusive Economies and Sustainable Livelihoods at the University of Toronto, with the support of the Centre for Global Social Policy’s Care Economy in Context Global Partnership research project (University of Toronto) and the Sustainable Development Goals lnstitutional Strategic lnitiative (University of Toronto).

Who should apply?

The program is interdisciplinary, welcoming early career academics (assistant professors, postdocs, advanced Ph.D. students) from across the social sciences, as well as intellectually engaged practitioners from government, civil society, and industry interested in innovative thinking and policies to promote inclusive economies. For practitioners, we define “early career” as encompassing policy­makers or professionals within the initial five years of their careers. Additionally, individuals transitioning from different professional backgrounds into the realm of inclusive economies will also be considered for participation in the institute.

While we will give priority to individuals based in the Americas (North, Central, South America and the Caribbean), participants from other parts of the world are encouraged to apply. The Summer lnstitute will be conducted in English and Spanish (you will need to be fluent in one of those languages to participate.

Why should you apply?

This summer school offers a unique opportunity for learning at no cost to admitted participants, covering tuition, travel and accommodation in Bogota*. The Summer lnstitute in Inclusive Economies for a Just and Sustainable Planet will provide a space to:

• Advance interdisciplinary research and policy initiatives aimed at advancing more inclusive, equitable and sustainable economic systems.
• Cultivating and facilitating an international collaborative network that bring together academics from different disciplines as well as fostering a dialogue between senior researchers, early career scholars and practitioners interested in these topics.
• Facilitate interdisciplinary exchanges by bringing economists into conversation with scholars from other fields.
• Explore novel perspectives to research, measure and intervene in the dynamics of our diverse economies and envision pathways toward a more just and sustainable planet.

*We are offering 10 to 15 bursaries to cover travel and accommodation expenses in Bogotá for early-career scholars and practitioners traveling from other cities or countries to attend the institute.

Organizing committee and invited participants