The University of Warwick Economics Department was this year’s host for the Royal Economic Society Annual Conference. The RES is one of the oldest economic associations in the world, founded in 1890 to promote the study of economic science.

The prestigious event, took place from 15 to 17 April and together more than 700 academic and professional economists from across the globe to present current research developments in economics, showcase real-world applications, and develop their personal and professional networks.

Leading global thinkers from Chicago, Princeton and Milan delivered keynote lectures on themes including the future of capitalism, welfare policies, and the science of trade, while other conference sessions will consider corruption, inequality, the economics of healthcare, the rise in hate crime, and the impact of gender on economic development.

In addition to the main conference agenda, special events this year included a mentoring retreat for female economists in the early stages of their careers, a series of evening discussion events open to the public, and a symposium of junior researchers, organised by the students themselves to foster discussion and sharing of research in all fields of economics.

Local residents with an interest in economics and public affairs were able to take part in the conference thanks to three early evening RES Presents discussion events, one on each day of the main conference. The Question Time-style events featured a panel discussion by leading economists on a topical issue followed by a debate. The three topics chosen for RES Presents 2019: Brexit, how universities can support regional development, and what it is that economists really do.

Keynote speeches were delivered by:

• James J. Heckman, Henry Shultz Distinguished Service Professor of Economics and Public Policy and Director of the Center for the Economics of Human Development at the University of Chicago. He will deliver the Sargan Keynote Lecture, entitled: Analyzing Social Experiments as Implemented
• Anne Case, Alexander Stewart 1886 Professor of Economics and Public Affairs Emeritus at Princeton University, where she is the Director of the Research Program in Development Studies. She will deliver the Hahn Keynote Lecture, on Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism

• Eliana La Ferrara, Invernizzi Chair in Development Economics at Bocconi University, Milan. She is also President of the European Economic Association and of the Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD). She will deliver the Economic Journal Keynote Lecture, on Enforcing conditional welfare programs.
• Peter Neary, Professor of Economics at Oxford University and a Professorial Fellow of Merton College. He will deliver the Past President’s Keynote Address, on Gravity without Apologies: The Science of Elasticities, Distance, and Trade

Several new studies by the Department of Economics researchers were presented at the conference which can be viewed at the CAGE Researchers at the RES conference 2019.

A group of 30 current students from the Department of Economics volunteered to provide support to the conference organisers.

I am very proud that the Warwick Department of Economics has been chosen to host this important conference. As a Department, we aim to deliver cutting-edge research with real-world policy relevance.
It is the personal connections between researchers that makes our success possible and so we are delighted to be bringing together such a stellar collection of economists, at all stages of their careers and across the whole spectrum of economics.