Call for papers
Global Talent Fund and the Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance (EIEF) invite submissions for the Talent Economics Conference. The conference aims to bring together leading researchers to discuss frontier research on the economics of talent.
We are particularly interested in three questions. First, how does exceptional STEM talent develop, and what role do cognitive ability, effort, environment, and noise in measurement play in producing the right tail of the distribution? Second, how can high-potential young people be identified earlier and more reliably, particularly outside the rich-country institutions that currently capture them? Third, how do exceptional individuals shape scientific discovery, productivity, and growth: through their own output, through spillovers to peers, and through the networks they help form?
We welcome both theoretical and empirical contributions on topics including, but not limited to:
- Gifted education programs and interventions
- Early indicators of future STEM excellence
- Access to higher education for talented individuals
- Sectoral allocation of talent and its consequences
- Cognitive ability and human capital accumulation
- The role of talented individuals in science and innovation
Keynote speakers:
• Prithwiraj (Raj) Choudhury, LSE
• John Van Reenen, LSE
Program committee
Ruchir Agarwal (Harvard University and Global Talent Fund), Gaia Dossi (Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance), Patrick Gaule (University of Bristol and Global Talent Fund).
PhD workshop:
A half-day workshop on Talent Economics will be held on the afternoon of Wednesday 21 October 2026. The workshop will offer PhD students and postdocs an introduction to the field’s central questions, data sources, and empirical approaches.
How to submit
Authors should submit a complete paper in PDF format here or by using the “Submit a paper” button below. We also welcome expressions of interest to pitch a paper for 5 minutes and/or attend the conference without presentation. PhD students and postdocs may also submit a statement of interest for the pre-conference workshop.
Submissions are due by 23:59 CEST on 30 July 2026. Decisions of acceptance will be announced by 15 August 2026.
Practical Information
There is no registration fee; meals during the conference and a conference dinner will be provided for all participants. Economy-class travel and accommodation expenses for up to three nights will be covered for speakers and selected workshop participants (expected to attend the full conference). An optional guided visit to the Galleria Borghese will be offered on Friday afternoon, following the final session.
Please contact talenteconomics@globtalent.org for any further enquiry.
