CAGE Research Centre officially launches at CAGE Africa Conference

The ESRC Centre for Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE III) saw its official launch this week during the CAGE Africa Conference.

The one-day event, attended by more than 50 national and international delegates, included presentations from leading academics and a keynote address - the 2025 Crafts Lecture - delivered by Leonard Wantchekon, Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University and founder of the African School of Economics.

• Devesh Rustagi (University of Warwick) opened the conference with a presentation on his work around successful cooperation using examples from the Arsi Oroma people in Ethiopia.
• Carolina Kansikas (University of Warwick) discussed her research into cash flow design and the challenge for households in near and extreme poverty with examples from rural households in Kenya.
• Leah Gardner (London School of Economics) presented highlights of her research into how and when the US came to have such a large influence in Africa, focusing on the interwar and post war period.
• Nonso Obikili from UNESCO focussed on the role of the environment in shaping African history and the way crop choices play a part in political organisation.

The 2025 Crafts Lecture - Building State Capacity: The Role of Institutional Experimentation and Scientific Innovation - was delivered by Professor Leonard Wantchekon. The lecture is available on the CAGE YouTube channelLink opens in a new window.

The conference was closed by Professor Mirko Draca with a presentation on the mission and research plans of CAGE III. Under Professor Draca's leadership CAGE's goal is "to make 'what works, work' and to measure hidden things which influence policy development, such as norms, implicit incentives and analytical frames.

Two final speakers highlighted different aspects of CAGE's planned programme. Dr Nikhil Datta co-leads an ambitious study using very large data sets to explore aspects of the UK planning system, one of CAGE's flagship research projects; while Sam McLoughlin, Senior Campaign Manager for Discover Economics introduced delegates to the work Discover Economics and CAGE are delivering together to inspire the next generation of economists.

• For more information about CAGE's work visit their websiteLink opens in a new window.

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