We are excited to announce that Dr. Stefania Lovo, Associate Professor and Director of Postgraduate Research Studies, Department of Economics, and Dr. Sam Rawlings, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, University of Reading, are organising a workshop on May 22, 2024, titled Institutions and Norms in Economic Development: A Focus on India. The workshop will serve as a platform for speakers and attendees to discuss the intricate relationship between institutions, norms, and the economic development of one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse economies, India.

How do formal and informal institutions impact economic growth, innovation, and societal well-being? How do cultural norms, traditions, and societal expectations shape economic behaviour? This workshop will seek to answer these questions by drawing upon both historical and contemporary contexts to provide a nuanced understanding of the pivotal role institutions play in shaping economic development. With a dedicated focus on India, participants will gain insights into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by the nation but will also devise lessons that can be applied from the Indian experience to other regions.

The workshop will feature a keynote lecture by Prof. Anandi Mani, Professor of Behavioural Economics and Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. Her research has focused on issues related to the behavioural economics of poverty and social exclusion, gender issues, public good provision, and the political economy of development.

Details of the workshop are as follows:

Date: Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024

Time: 9:30-17.30

Venue: Carrington 101, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading

You can register your interest in attending the entire workshop (9:30–17:00) or the keynote lecture only. Please email both organisers of the workshop, Stefania Lovo (s.lovo@reading.ac.uk) and Sam Rawlings (s.b.rawlings@reading.ac.uk), if you would like to attend.