Important dates:
- 22 May (Application deadline)
- 6-10 July (Training)
In partnership with the Department of Economics and Development Studies at the University of Nairobi, we aim to organize a training program in heterodox macroeconomics to expand critical and pluralist approaches to economic teaching and research. The training is motivated by the continued dominance of neoclassical economics in many African universities, which often narrows the range of analytical tools available to students and educators seeking to understand the continent’s development challenges. Our experience working with students and researchers across Africa has also highlighted the structural limitations many face in accessing alternative economic perspectives and methodologies. Through this training, we hope to strengthen engagement with diverse macroeconomic traditions and support more contextually grounded approaches to economic analysis and policymaking.
There is an increasing demand for alternative approaches that more effectively engage with the structural realities of African economies. In response, this training aims to support the growth and continuity of heterodox economic scholarship in Africa by focusing on young lecturers and early career researchers. Through exposing participants to alternative approaches in macroeconomics, political economy, and development economics, they will be equipped to enhance teaching, research, and debate within their institutions.
The program’s underlying rationale is that students, researchers, and future policymakers need to comprehend the assumptions, limitations, and policy implications of neoclassical macroeconomics to more accurately assess and diagnose Africa’s economic challenges. Without such grounding, economic analysis will likely replicate orthodox policy prescriptions commonly associated with institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, African Development bank etc, despite their failure in addressing structural transformation, inequality, unemployment, and external vulnerability
This 5 day program seeks to contribute to a broader intellectual shift within African universities. Participants will be equipped to enrich teaching, stimulate new research agendas, and help cultivate future generations of students with more contextually relevant analysis.
IDEAs will cover all travel and accommodation costs of selected participants.
The training will offer an introduction to essential heterodox perspectives, including
- Introductory heterodox macroeconomics
- Trade and development
- Feminist macroeconomics
- Finance, banks, and money
Applicants must meet the following criteria
- Hold a master’s degree in economics, be enrolled in a PhD program in Economics, or have completed a PhD in Economics
- Be a national of an African country
- Be able to commit to full in-person attendance for the duration of the training program