Transitioning towards a more just and sustainable planet requires new ways of thinking, teaching, and doing research on economics and economic development policy. This past June, the Summer Institute in Inclusive Economies for a Just and Sustainable Planet at the University of the Andes in Bogotá, Colombia provided a space to advance interdisciplinary and policy-relevant research that fosters more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable economic systems. Organizers of the Institute aim to cultivate an international collaborative network that facilitates dialogue between senior researchers, early career scholars and policymakers.
The Institute was organized by Sergio Montero, Director of the Institute for Inclusive Economies & Sustainable Livelihoods at the University of Toronto. 40 participants from the Global North and the South attended; they discussed new ways of thinking, doing research and intervening in economics and economic development policy. Ito Peng, Director of the Centre for Global Social Policy, participated, as did three CGSP PhD students: Daniela Ugarte Villalobos, Kayla Benjamin, and Pelin Gul.
The Summer Institute was an incredible opportunity to connect with like-minded researchers working toward our shared aim of building more sustainable and inclusive economies! We had the pleasure of hearing from leading scholars, innovating in their respective fields. In learning from the senior scholars, and each other as early career scholars, we all came away with new potential collaborators and project ideas. I can’t wait for the research projects that will come out of these collaborations!
Kayla Benjamin, CGSP PhD Student
The Institute was designed around four key themes:
- Architecture and Inequality: Repurposing Housing, Infrastructure and Cities for Economic Inclusion
- Nurturing the Commons: Place-based and Solidarity Approaches for a Just Planet
- Measuring Inequality: Economic Exclusion as a social determinant of health
- Feminist Approaches to Economics and the Care Economy
“The summer institute proved to be an incredibly enriching experience for me – a PhD student focusing on her dissertation proposal. Over the four-day program, I engaged with thought leaders and peers from diverse backgrounds, all dedicated to reshaping economic paradigms to promote equity and sustainability. This environment provided an exceptional opportunity for brainstorming not just for research and collaboration, but also innovating ways to enact meaningful change in daily life.
In the initial days, we fostered a collaborative atmosphere where professional engagement was complemented by a friendly rapport. Reflecting on the final day, I found it inspiring to witness the dynamic exchange between scholars from the Global North and South on interconnected themes, underscoring the necessity of a comprehensive approach to global economic research —a perspective that resonates deeply with my own academic pursuits and dissertation focus.”
Pelin Gul, CGSP PhD Student
🌎 Del 5 al 8 de junio tuvimos el primer "Instituto de Verano de Economías Inclusivas para un Planeta Justo y Sostenible". 43 participantes del sur y norte global se reunieron para discutir nuevas formas de pensar e intervenir en economía y políticas de desarrollo económico. pic.twitter.com/Plk60A5C9I
— TREES (@treesuniandes) July 8, 2024