FRESH Meeting in Rome, 28-29 September 2026

FRESH Meeting in Rome, 28-29 September 2026 on Transport, Infrastructure, and Long-Run Development

On 28-29 September 2026, the Department of Economics and Finance at the University of Rome Tor Vergata will host a FRESH meeting on Transport, Infrastructure, and Long-Run Development: Historical Evidence. The purpose is to create the opportunity for graduate students and early-stage researchers to present and discuss their work in an environment especially focused on constructive feedback and support.

The keynote speaker for this meeting will be James Fenske, Professor of Economics at the University of Warwick. 

Meeting Overview 

Economic historians have long studied transport and infrastructure as drivers of long-run development, while the frontiers of data, measurement, and causal identification in this field continue to expand. This workshop brings together recent, yet unpublished research at the intersection of economic history and quantitative methods, covering new data sources, the simulation of historical transport costs, and the link between infrastructure and outcomes beyond trade.

Papers on any period or region are eligible. The meeting includes the presentation of approximately 10 papers. Accepted papers will receive 45 minutes each (30 minutes for presentation and 15 for discussion). Lunch on both days and dinner on the 28th will be provided by the local hosts; invited speakers should cover travel and accommodation themselves and are strongly encouraged to arrive on September 27th. 

Paper Submission 

Researchers interested in presenting should send an abstract of max. 500 words and/or a well-developed research question, as well as a brief (1–2 page) CV to RomeFresh2026@gmail.com in one single PDF file. Early career scholars and researchers from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in academia are especially encouraged to apply. 

Important deadlines

• 12 June 2026: Deadline for submissions 

• 26 June 2026: Presenters will be notified of acceptance 

• 28–29 September 2026: Meeting at Tor Vergata, Italy

This meeting is organized by Roberto Chimento, Carlo Ciccarelli, and Enzo Pozza, in association with the Frontier Research in Economic and Social History series (FRESH). For more information about FRESH meetings, please see https://ehes.org/fresh-meetings/ 

This meeting is made possible thanks to funding made available by DEF Tor Vergata and the European Historical Economics Society (EHES).