EJPE Conference on the Political Economy of Identity, Institutions, and Polarisation

Conference Highlights

EJPE Conference on the Political Economy of Identity, Institutions, and Polarisation – KOF Swiss Economic Institute | ETH Zurich
It is our great pleasure to present to you the 2026 EJPE Conference on the Political Economy of Identity, Institutions, and Polarisation, organised by the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich with the generous support of the European Journal of Political Economy (EJPE) @ Elsevier. The conference will be held in Davos, Switzerland on 2-4 February 2026. 

It is our great pleasure to present to you the 2026 EJPE Conference on the Political Economy of Identity, Institutions, and Polarisation, organised by the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich with the generous support of the European Journal of Political Economy (EJPE) @ Elsevier. The conference will be held in Davos, Switzerland on 2-4 February 2026.
We look forward to exploring the theme of Identity, Institutions, and Polarisation — an exploration that promises fresh insights and dynamic conversations.
We are delighted to announce thatEkaterina Zhuravskaya(Paris School of Economics) andNicola Gennaioli(Bocconi University) will join us askeynote speakers. Both are leading voices in the growing literature on identity and political economy, and their research offers complementary and thought-provoking perspectives on the core themes of this year’s conference.
Zhuravskaya’s influential work examines how ethnic diversity, media narratives, and historical legacies shape social and political polarisation. Her research provides a powerful lens through which to understand the complex interplay between identity, institutional structures, and societal outcomes.
Gennaioli’s recent work explores how the activation of voters’ economic or cultural identities influences political attitudes and polarisation. His experimental approach provides rich insights into the psychological and behavioural underpinnings of political conflict, and how these dynamics interact with institutional and economic factors.