Call for Papers

The Regional Research Network (RRN) of the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP) Central Banks was launched in 2021 with the support of the World Bank MENAAP Chief Economist Office. The RRN seeks to facilitate the diffusion of ideas, scholarly research in economics, and promote evidence-based policy dialogue on the development challenges and opportunities faced by the region. The RRN Annual Conference is organized by the Heads of Research Departments and/or Chief Economists of the Central Banks of the region, together with the World Bank MENAAP Chief Economist Office.

The sixth edition of the conference will examine how MENAAP economies and beyond can navigate major shifts in global trade, investment, technology, and strategic economic relations while laying the foundations for durable growth. With supply chains evolving, global financial conditions tightening, artificial intelligence advancing rapidly, and demand rising for digital, energy, and strategic infrastructure, the conference will explore how policymakers can advance domestic reforms, strengthen competitiveness, support innovation and private sector development, and promote deeper regional integration and inclusive long-term growth.

The Steering Committee of the 6th RRN Conference invites submissions of high-quality papers, with the potential for publication in peer-reviewed journals, that address the conference themes and propose innovative solutions for policymakers. Priority topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Global Trade, Production Networks, and Economic Fragmentation
• Industrial Policy, Competitiveness, and Economic Diversification, and Resilience
• Structural Transformation, Labour Markets, and Inclusive Growth
• Migration, Labour Mobility, and Remittance Flows
• Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation, Innovation, Productivity, and Labor Markets
• Digital, Public, and Strategic Infrastructure
• Energy Markets, Geopolitics, and Energy Transition
• Financial Stability, Macroprudential Policies, Capital Markets Developments, and Financial Innovation
• Climate Risks, Adaptation, Transition Policies, and Sustainable Finance
• Monetary Policy Transmission, Inflation Expectations and Structural Change
   

Empirical and theoretical contributions analyzing these topics are welcome. While a focus on MENAAP countries is encouraged, papers examining broader global issues with clear relevance to MENAAP’s economic and policy challenges will be also highly valued.

Submission Details

Submission deadline: November 20, 2026 (before midnight Washington, D.C. time)

Submission email:    
maprrn@worldbank.org

The e-mail should contain i) the name, title, and affiliated organization/institution of the main author and potential presenter, ii)  the names of the co-authors, iii) an abstract of the paper and iv) the full paper as an attachment. Please use [Paper submission to the sixth RRN Conference] in the subject line.

Notification of acceptance: December 22, 2026
Conference dates: March 25 and 26, 2027
Conference location: Rome, Italy
Organizers: Hosted by the Bank of Italy, the World Bank Institute for Economic Development and the World Bank MENAAP Chief Economist Office, on behalf of the Regional Research Network of MENAAP Central Banks.
Opening remarks: Member of Banca d'Italia's Governing Board (To Be Confirmed)
Keynote speaker: Ufuk Akcigit, Deputy Chief Economist and Director of Private Markets, World Bank
 

Questions

Questions or comments about the submission of papers should be addressed to maprrn@worldbank.org. For more information on the RRN, including recordings of previous editions of the conference, please visit the RRN website.