2023 WGAPE Meeting at UC Berkeley

OVERVIEW

WGAPE invites interested scholars to submit a paper or research design to present at a meeting at University of California, Berkeley from March 3rd-4th, 2023. 

The Working Group in African Political Economy (WGAPE) brings together faculty and advanced graduate students in Economics and Political Science who combine field research experience in Africa with training in political economy methods. The group has met semi-annually to discuss the in-progress work of its core members and has invited guests since 2002. It is co-led by Daniel Posner (Political Science, UCLA), Edward Miguel (Economics, UC Berkeley), Amanda Robinson (Political Science, Ohio State University), and Amma Panin (Economics, University of Louvain), and hosted by the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) at UC Berkeley.

WGAPE meetings are held regionally throughout the year in different locations. This call for papers and research designs is for a West Coast meeting, presumptively for researchers located in the western United States (although we will consider applications from researchers located outside of this area, if funding permits).

ABOUT WGAPE

WGAPE meetings center on research discussion sessions rather than presentations. Papers are circulated and expected to be read in advance by all participants. Presenters provide brief, orienting comments before the floor is opened for an hour-long discussion of each paper or research design. WGAPE accepts working papers and research designs (see an archive of papers from past WGAPE meetings here).

• What we’ll accept: We invite submissions that reflect WGAPE’s broad research agenda on political economy and development economics in sub-Saharan Africa, including civil conflict, decentralization and democratization, public economics, corruption, local governance, and other related topics. Submissions that deal with other topics in the applied microeconomics of development in Africa will also be considered. WGAPE commonly, but not exclusively, selects submissions with a strong focus on fieldwork and quantitative analysis. We plan to accept a total number of 8 papers for this meeting.
• Paper Submission Categories: We invite submissions of papers or research designs. Early-stage (but complete) papers and research designs are particularly welcome, and will be prioritized for inclusion, as these are the kinds of submissions that generate the most useful discussions at WGAPE meetings. Research design submissions should describe a fully planned research study on one of the themes listed above. A suggested format for these submissions is the Pre-Analysis Plan (please find a template here). It is not necessary to reformat a Pre-Analysis Plan to exactly match the linked template, but a strong Pre-Analysis Plan will include the elements listed in the template.
• Who is eligible: Priority will be given to West Coast-based junior faculty, post-doctoral scholars, and graduate students whose research interests are aligned with WGAPE themes.
• Timeline and logistics: Please submit your application by January 13th, 2023. Selected participants will arrive in Berkeley, CA by March 2nd, 2023. Because the WGAPE format revolves around in-depth discussions rather than presentations, authors of selected papers are expected to read the papers in advance and participate in the full March 3-4th meeting.
• Participant costs and travel: WGAPE will provide funding for travel, accommodation, and related expenses for one author of each accepted paper, if based on the West Coast of the US or Canada, and who live outside of the Bay Area.

APPLY TO SUBMIT YOUR PAPER OR RESEARCH DESIGN

To submit your paper or research design, please complete the form at this URL by 11:59pm PT on January 13, 2023.  

Submissions must include: 

• Your paper or research design
• Up-to-date Curriculum Vitae or Resume with contact information, including current location
• A paragraph describing your research interests and the methods you use (or plan to use) for your research
• A paragraph describing why you would like to attend WGAPE, what you hope to gain from it, and how your research project advances the study of political economy in Africa, in line with WGAPE focus areas

Successful applicants will be notified within a few weeks, and will be expected to attend the full 2-day workshop.

If you are based in the West Coast, and would like to participate without submitting a paper (self-funded), please write to Amy Shipow (amyshipow@berkeley.edu) with an expression of your interest and how this opportunity will contribute to your personal and professional goals.

WITHDRAWING OR AMENDING YOUR APPLICATION

If you have already applied for this RFP, and would either like to withdraw or amend your submission, please contact Amy Shipow at amyshipow@berkeley.edu. Please also contact this email address for any further information or clarification.