Working Group in African Political Economy (WGAPE) Meeting at USC

Release date: September 9, 2026

Submission deadline: October 8, 2026

Notification date: October 15, 2026 (Approx)

Meeting dates: December 10-11, 2026, University of Southern California.

Submit your Paper/Research Design

The Working Group in African Political Economy (WGAPE) invites interested scholars to submit a paper or research design to present at a plenary meeting at the University of Southern California from December 10-11th.

WGAPE brings together faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and advanced graduate students in political science, economics, and related fields who combine field research experience in Africa with training in the tools of political economy. Since 2002, WGAPE has regularly convened scholars to discuss in-progress research. The 2026 USC meeting is hosted by the USC Center for International Studies and the Department of Political Science and International Relations, and organized by Eric Kramon and Brett Carter.

WGAPE meetings are held regionally throughout the year in different parts of the US and in Africa. This call prioritizes faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students based on the West Coast. Scholars who would like to participate without presenting a paper are also welcome to submit an expression of interest.

Meeting Information

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).

• What we will 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 related topics. Work on 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. See examples of previously selected papers from past WGAPE meetings to help inform your submission.
• Submission categories: Applicants may submit either a full paper or a 300-word abstract describing a research design or early-stage project. Early-stage work is particularly welcome when the project is sufficiently developed to benefit from sustained discussion. Applicants submitting abstracts will be expected to have a completed paper draft or research design to circulate in advance of the meeting.
• Who is eligible: Priority will be given to West Coast-based faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students whose research interests align with WGAPE themes.
• Timeline and logistics: Please submit application materials by October 8, 2026. Decisions will be announced by October 15. Selected presenters are expected to participate in the full meeting at USC on December 10-11, 2026 and to read the other selected papers in advance.
• Presenter travel: USC will provide travel and hotel funding for presenters whose submissions are selected.
• Participation without presenting: Researchers who would like to attend without submitting a paper may use the submission form to provide a brief expression of interest. Please note that we can only guarantee travel and hotel funding for selected presenters.

Considerations for Submission

Reviewers will consider the following factors when making their decisions about which papers or research designs to accept:

1. Completeness of the submission: Submissions will be rejected if they are incomplete or if the necessary details of the research design are not reported clearly and in sufficient detail.
2. Novelty: The study should add to or build on the existing literature, as well as advance the knowledge base about the research questions.
3. Relevance: The study should explore an area related to the political economy and development economics in sub-Saharan Africa, including civil conflict, decentralization and democratization, public economics, corruption, local governance, and other related topics. Note that quantitative studies will be prioritized (although studies that include some level of qualitative analysis are welcome).
4. Quality: We understand that papers/research designs may be in the early stage, but reviewers will still want to ensure the methodology is rigorous and sound. To that end, are the assumptions motivating the analysis reasonable? Is the research design clear and well-articulated? Does the design hold promise of generating valid inferences that speak directly to the project’s motivation?

Apply to Submit Your Paper or Research Design

To apply, please complete the submission form by 11:59 p.m. PT on October 8, 2026. Please use the SUBMISSION FORM.

Required submission: Either a full paper or a 300-word abstract describing the research question, project stage, proposed methods, and expected contribution.

Selected presenters and participants will be notified by October 15, 2026 and will be expected to participate in the full December 10-11 meeting.

Scholars interested in participating without presenting should submit a brief expression of interest through the same form, describing their research interests and reasons for wishing to attend.