2-3 July, 2026 - Espace du Lac

« Building for the Future: The Economics of Infrastructure and Sustainable Development »

The workshop “Building for the Future” will take place at UCLouvain (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium) Louvain House - Espace du Lac. The event is co-organized by the University of Luxembourg and UCLouvain, with the support of the FNR and FNRS through the ROAD project.

Keynote Speakers

• Rémi Jedwab (George Washington University)
• Dzhamilya Nigmatulina (HEC Lausanne)

Program

July 02, 2026

08:30 - 09:00 Registration

09:00 - 09:15 Welcome Address

Session 1: Road Infrastructure, Deforestation, and Development Policies

09:15 - 09:55 Evie Graus (Luxembourg University)
Violence Next Door: How Conflict Reconfigures Regional Trade and Development

09:55 - 10:35 Conrad Nunnenmacher (UNU-MERIT)
Road Infrastructure, Economic Development and Forest Loss in the Republic of the Congo

Coffee Break

Session 2: Infrastructure, Electrification, and Spatial Dynamics

10:55 - 11:35 Hamza Syed (London School of Economics)
Power to Progress: Electricity Supply, Inequality and Development in Rural India

11:35 - 12:15 Elias Ndatabaye Maombi (University of Antwerp, IOB)
Does First-Time Street Lighting Reduce Crime? Evidence from Goma, Eastern DRC

Lunch

Session 3: Trade, Gender, and Structural Transformation 

13:30 - 14:10 Megan Haasbroek (BI Norwegian Business School)
Domestic Infrastructure and the Regional Effects of Trade

14:10 - 14:50 Pavel Chakraborty  (University of Bath)
Trade Liberalization, Road, and Female Employment: Evidence from Ethiopia

14:50 - 15:50 KEYNOTE 1: Rémi Jedwab (George Washington University) 
Skyscrapers as Sustainable Infrastructure Investments?

Coffee Break

Session 4: Migration, and Conflict

16:10 - 16:50 Sebastian Krantz (Kiel Institute for the World Economy) 
Optimal Road Investments in the CEMAC Region

16:50 - 17:30 Akhila Kovvuri (Stanford University)
Moving Opportunity Closer: How Public Transit Transforms Firm Composition and Employment

JULY 03, 2026

Session 5: Energy, Firm Dynamics, and Spatial Reallocation

09:20 - 10:00 Chun Chee Kok (UCLouvain)
When the Middleman Leaves: Commercial Networks, Expulsion, and Long-Run Development

10:00 - 10:40 Weijian (Eddy) Zou (London School of Economics)
Distributive Power: The Spatial Diffusion of Distributed Solar in South Africa

Coffee Break

11:00 - 12:00 KEYNOTE 2: Dzhamilya Nigmatulina (HEC Lausanne)
Road Infrastructure Within and Across Cities. Taking Stock

Session 6: Urbanization, Trade, and Spatial Spillovers

13:00 - 13:40 Tim Ferber (Paris School of Economics)
Urbanization Dynamics and Flood Risk

13:40 - 14:20 Shunsuke Tsuda (University of Essex)
Human and Nature: Economies of Density and Conservation in the Amazon Rainforest

14:20 - 14:30 Final Words

  Download the PDF Version of the program

Registration

To register, please fill in this FORM before June 16, 2026. 

Theme and Scope

Infrastructure development is a crucial determinant of economic and social outcomes—shaping market access, environmental sustainability, spatial mobility, and welfare. As developing countries pursue economic transformation, understanding the multifaceted impacts of infrastructure is more important than ever.

The workshop brings together junior and senior researchers in development economics to explore the consequences of infrastructure expansion in low- and middle-income countries. We welcome contributions from empirical, theoretical, and policy perspectives.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

• Transport infrastructure
• Environmental and sanitary impacts of infrastructure
• Political economy of infrastructure planning and financing
• ...

Submission Guidelines

• Deadline: March 31, 2026
• Format: Full papers are preferred; extended abstracts (min. 1,000 words) will also be considered.
• Submission link/email: jean-francois.maystadt@uclouvain.be

Authors will be notified of decisions by mid-April 2026.

Call for paper

Workshop Format

To foster rich interaction and constructive feedback, the workshop is intentionally kept small—around 40 participants with approximately 12 presentations.

Presenters are expected to attend the full workshop and discuss another paper.

All sessions will be plenary.
Each presentation slot consists of:

• 30 minutes for the presentation
• 5 minutes for discussion
• 10 minutes for Q&A

Practical Information

The organizers will provide:

• Accommodation for all presenters
• Meals and refreshments during the workshop

Travel costs remain the responsibility of presenters.

Louvain-la-Neuve is well-connected by train to Brussels and Brussels Airport; the workshop venue, hotels, and restaurants are all within walking distance in the pedestrian town center.

Diversity & Inclusion Statement

The organizers are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic environment. We strongly encourage submissions from researchers of all backgrounds, including early-career scholars, women, and underrepresented groups in the economics profession. We aim to promote a respectful and supportive atmosphere benefiting the entire research community.

Organizing Committee

• Jean-François Maystadt, UCLouvain
• Silvia Peracchi, UCLouvain
• Evie Graus, University of Luxembourg
• Luisito Bertinelli, University of Luxembourg

Contact

For questions, please contact: severine.devisscher@uclouvain.be

Additional information will be provided on this event webpage