Are you working on questions of development through a Political Economy lens? Or interested in how power, institutions and political forces shape economic development?

The YSI Political Economy of Development Reading & Discussion Group brings together young scholars working on Political Economy and development from across institutions and countries. The YSI group meets online on the first Tuesday of every month to discuss published research, exchange ideas, share feedback and connect with others working on related questions.

Each session focuses on a Political Economy article on development, providing an informal space to engage with interesting research and discuss the questions, approaches and debates it raises. Over time, we hope the group will become a space for intellectual exchange, new connections and potential collaboration.

PhD students who would like to become more actively involved can also join their PhD group. Members of the core group are added to our calendar and WhatsApp group, creating a more regular and intimate space for discussion and exchange.

PhD members can also share their own work with the group. They organise separate sessions to discuss work in progress, giving members an opportunity to receive feedback and develop their research in conversation with peers.

The group is keen for the community to be shaped by its members: alongside organising discussions, they encourage participants to suggest readings, propose topics and take ownership of activities and initiatives. The wider YSI reading group provides a way to connect with a broader international audience, while the PhD group offers a closer community for ongoing exchange and mutual support.

You can find our their past readings and discussion notes, as well as their definition of Political Economy, here.

If you would like to join the PhD group, suggest an article, or arrange a session to discuss your own work, please get in touch with Caroline Cornier ([email protected]) and Guido Maschhaupt ([email protected]).