Meetings

Mend the Gap in Economic Opportunities in Europe and Central Asia: Second Edition

  • May 14, 2026 - May 15, 2026
  • Rome, Italy
Submit your paper

Mend the Gap in Economic Opportunities in Europe and Central Asia

 

The Institute for Economic Development, the Axa Gender Lab at Bocconi University, the Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance (EIEF), the World Bank's ECA Gender Innovation Lab (ECAGIL), and the Center for Research on Women and Jobs (CRWJ) are organizing the second edition of the workshop Mend the Gap in Economic Opportunities in Europe and Central Asia.

The workshop will provide a platform for evidence-based policy dialogue on strategies to promote women’s economic empowerment, labor market participation, and entrepreneurship.

The research conference will have a similar format as the 2025 edition and will be held from May 14 to May 15, 2026 at the EIEF campus in Rome, Italy.

 

 

We invite submissions of one-page extended abstracts that will include the objectives, the research question, a brief description of the methodology, preliminary findings, author names and affiliations, and contact email for corresponding author.

Themes

We invite empirical research on key constraints to women’s labor force participation and on effective policies that expand access to good jobs in Europe and Central Asia. Topics include:

  • Women’s employment and earnings
  • Social norms and unpaid work
  • Technology, AI and digitalization
  • Education, skilling, and school-to-work transitions for young women
  • Gender gaps in firm behavior and workplace practices
  • Female entrepreneurship and access to finance
  • Aging, pensions and care
  • Migration, displacement and cross-border mobility
  • Regional disparities in gender outcomes

Scientific Committee

  • Manuel Bagues, Warwick
  • Kathleen Beegle, World Bank
  • Gaia Dossi, EIEF
  • Markus Eberhardt, University of Nottingham
  • Anna Fruttero, World Bank
  • Nancy Lozano, World Bank
  • Joao Monteiro, EIEF
  • Franco Peracchi, EIEF
  • Paola Profeta, Bocconi University
  • Lucia Rizzica, Bank of Italy
  • Almudena Sevilla, LSE

Submission

Extended abstracts only should be submitted by January 16, 2026 to: mendthegapworkshop@worldbank.org

Early-career researchers are encouraged to apply.

 

Deadline for extended abstract submission (not full papers): January 16, 2026

Communication of paper acceptance: February 15, 2026

Final paper submission: March 30, 2026

The final program will be posted on the workshop’s website by April 6, 2026.

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