We are pleased to share the preliminary program for ADEW2026. Please note that minor changes to the program may occur as arrangements are finalised. ADEW2026 Program.pdf
Kathryn Whitney / Canberra
Primary Landing Page
Thursday 4 June 2026
- 8:30am - 9:00am: Registration
- 9:00am - 9:15am: Conference Opening and Acknowledgement of Country
- Rebekah Brown, Interim Vice Chancellor, Australian National University
- Anthony Swan, Director, Development Economics Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Firman Witoelar, ADEW2026 organising committee
- 9:15am - 10:30am: Plenary Panel 1: Pacific Panel
- Satish Chand, University of New South Wales
- Lisa Cameron, University of Melbourne
- Andrew Cumpston, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- 10:30am - 11:00am: Morning tea
- 11:00am - 1:00pm:
- Parallel Session 1A Gender and Households
- Parallel Session 1B Health and Education
- 1:00pm - 2:00pm: Lunch / ADEA AGM
- 2:00pm - 3:30pm:
- Parallel Session 2A Institutions and Political Economy
- Parallel Session 2B Conflicts and Social Institutions
- Parallel Session 2C Climate, Development and Public Attitudes
- 3:30pm - 4:00pm: Afternoon tea
- 4:00pm - 5:30pm: Plenary Panel 2: Social Protection
- Vivi Alatas, Prospera
- Sarah Baird, George Washington University
- Asif Saleh, BRAC
- Iffath Sharif, World Bank
- 6:30pm: Dinner for speakers and invited guests
Friday 5 June 2026
- 8:45am - 9:00am: Registration
- 9:00am - 10:30am:
- Parallel Session 3A Trade and Firms
- Parallel Session 3B Macroeconomics of Development
- Parallel Session 3C Connecting Academia and Aid: Opportunities in Australia’s Development Program
- 10:30am - 11:00am: Morning tea
- 11:00am - 12:30pm: Keynote Address
- “Reducing Court Congestion: Experiments in Mexican Labor Courts “, Christopher Woodruff, University of Oxford
- 12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch / ADEW Executive Committee Meeting
- 1:30pm - 3:00pm:
- Parallel Session 4A Gender, Violence & Environmental Risks
- Parallel Session 4B Human Capital, Inclusion & Firm Dynamics
- Parallel Session 4C Shocks, Early Life Conditions & Human Capital
- 3:00pm - 3:30pm: Afternoon tea
- 3:30pm - 5:00pm:
- Parallel Session 5A Climate Vulnerability, Environmental Health & Adaptation
- Parallel Session 5B Governance & Institutions
- 5:00pm - 6:00pm: Post-workshop networking and drinks
Plenary Panel 1: Pacific Panel
Plenary Panel 1: Pacific Panel
Chair: Ryan Edwards, Australian National University
- Satish Chand, University of New South Wales
- Lisa Cameron, University of Melbourne
- Andrew Cumpston, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Parallel Session 1
Parallel Session 1A: Gender and Households
Chair: Jane Golley (Australian National University)
- Impact of Women’s Education on Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence from Bangladesh, Fariha Kabir, Monash University
- Women’s access to higher education and fertility: evidence from university openings in Ethiopia, Chikako Yamauchi, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)
- Can partial childcare change mothers’ work? Labour supply and household adjustments, Dyah Pritadrajati, Australian National University
Parallel Session 1B: Health and Education
Chair: Xin Meng (Australian National University)
- Imprecise Beliefs About Malaria Infection Risk and Vaccine Protection in Ghana, Gustavo Acosta, University of Michigan
- Reducing informational and motivational barriers to higher education access: evidence from a randomised controlled trial in Indonesia, Sarah Dong, Australian National University
- When Primary Care Collapses: Rural Economic Reform and Rising Mortality in China, Shulei Zhang, Australian National University
- Why Boys Lag Behind: The Role of Parental Discipline in Early Childhood Development, Xinyan Liu, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Parallel Session 2
Parallel Session 2A: Institutions & Political Economy
Chair: Pushkar Maitra, Monash University
- Dishonesty concessions in teams: Theory and experimental insights from local politicians in India, Kunal Sen, UNU-WIDER
- Why Institutions Endure: Norms, Leadership, and What Enables Reform, Omer Majeed, Australian National University
- The Relevant Third, Pushkar Maitra, Monash University
Parallel Session 2B: Conflicts and Social Institutions
Chair: Hal Hill, Australian National University
- Missions Misaligned: Colonial Legacies of Social Conflict in Africa, Ashani Amarasinghe, University of Sydney
- Bloodshed & Wedlock: The effects of war on age at marriage in Nepal, William Huang, University of Technology Sydney
- Aid, Interrupted: How the USAID Shutdown Heightened Conflict in Africa, David Ubilava, University of Sydney
Parallel Session 2C: Climate, Development, and Public Attitudes
Chair: Anu Rammohan, University of Western Australia
- For Shorter or Poorer: Attitudes Toward the Trade-Off between Poverty and Mortality, Christopher Hoy, University of Melbourne
- Reimagining development: Experimental evidence of public reception to progressive development narratives in an emerging economy, Elghafiky Bimardhika, Bahana NarrativeLab
- The promise and pitfalls of green growth, Anna Szabo, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Plenary Panel 2: Social Protection
Plenary Panel 2: Social Protection
Chair: Shyamal Chowdhury, Australian National University
- Vivi Alatas, Prospera
- Sarah Baird, George Washington University
- Asif Saleh, BRAC
- Iffath Sharif, World Bank
Parallel Session 3
Parallel Session 3A: Trade & Firms
Chair: Prema-chandra Athukorala, Australian National University
- Contagion in Financial Cooperatives: Evidence from Guarantor Networks in Kenya, Kevin Carney, University of Michigan
- Trade Liberalization, Reallocation, and the Decline of Labour Share in Indonesian Manufacturing, Arianto Patunru, Australian National University
- Thailand’s Automobile Industry: The ‘Detroit of Asia’ Confronting the EV Transition. Prema-Chandra Athukorala, Australian National University
Parallel Session 3B: Macroeconomics of Development
Chair: Yixiao Zhou, Australian National University
- International Migration, Remittance Income, and the Modernization of Rural Areas, Bishal Chalise, Deakin University
- Structural change and income inequality: Evidence from Thailand, Peter Warr, Australian National University
- The Global Housing Quality Revolution, Simon Franklin, Queen Mary University London
Parallel Session 3C: Connecting Academia and Aid: Opportunities in Australia’s Development Program
Chair: Sam Porter, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Warren Turner, Adam Smith International
- Brett Inder, Monash University
- Gabrielle Stewart, Equity Economics
Keynote Address
Keynote Address: “Reducing Court Congestion: Experiments in Mexican Labor Courts “
Chair: Martine Mariotti, Australian National University
- Christopher Woodruff, University of Oxford
Parallel Session 4
Parallel Session 4A: Gender, Violence, and Environmental Risks
Chair: Matthew Lilley, Australian National University
- Dowry expectation and intimate partner violence, Prasad Bhattacharya, Deakin University
- Communal Violence and Educational Attainment: Evidence from India, Meghna Laha, Clemson University
- Air Pollution and Child Mortality in West Africa: Evidence from Daily Satellite Data, Beda Emilia Tjernström, Macquarie University
Parallel Session 4B: Human Capital, Inclusion & Firm Dynamics
Chair: Paul Burke, Australian National University
- Firm Effects of Labor Market Affirmative Action: Evidence from South Africa, Krisztina Orb´an, Monash University
- Incentivizing Inclusion: Experimental Evidence on Lending to Women-Led Firms in Vietnam, Russell Toth, University of Sydney
- Skill-Biased Digital Farming: Human Capital and the Returns to Complex Information in Vietnamese Aquaculture, Aya Suzuki, University of Tokyo
Parallel Session 4C: Shocks, Early Life Conditions & Human Capital
Chair: Budy Resosudarmo, Australian National University
- Unexpected Fertility Shocks and Human Capital Accumulation: The Case of the Zika Epidemic in Brazil, Federico Haslop, The George Washington University
- Effects of Early Life Shocks on Children’s Physical and Cognitive Development: Evidence from Vietnam, Giang Tran, Monash University
- Stunting in rural Timor Leste: a decomposition analysis by wealth gap, Harshita Bhatia, University of Melbourne
Parallel Session 5
Parallel Session 5A: Climate Vulnerability, Environmental Health & Adaptation
Chair: Yu Sheng, Australian National University
- Preferences for in-place and relocated living among climate-vulnerable communities in Fiji: a discrete choice experiment, Rohan Sweeney, Monash University
- No pain, no gain? Mining pollution and morbidity, Syed Hasan, Massey University
- When Climate Shocks Links the Collective Decisions: Extraction Coordination and Canal Maintenance in Tank Irrigation, Sharunya Gnanasubramaniam, University of New South Wales
Parallel Session 5B: Governance & Institutions
Chair: Diana Contreras Suarez, University of Melbourne
- Reelection Incentives and Corruption: Revisiting the Evidence with LLM-Classified Audit Reports, Ricardo Dahis, Monash University
- Women at the Helm: Female Mayors and Policy Outcomes in Decentralised Indonesia, Nurina Merdikawati, Australian National University
- Institutionalisation Without Formalisation: A Governance Diagnostic of Post-Donor Seed System Sustainability in Timor-Leste, Zac Horbelt, Adelaide University
Keynote speakers
This year’s keynote and plenary panels bring together internationally recognised experts to share insights on some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities in development economics today.
Chris Woodruff
Keynote Speaker
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In addition to his position at Oxford, he is a Research Fellow at the CEPR, and a Senior Fellow of the Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD). Chris’s research is widely published in leading academic journals and focuses on enterprises in low-income countries, with noted work on returns to capital investments in microenterprises and the effect of formal registration on enterprise performance. He is a pioneer in the use of field experiments in firms.
Vivi Alatas
Plenary Panel
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She presented various of these research findings to President, Vice President , Ministers and Deputy Ministers. She also has written several journal papers on poverty, inequality and labour issues. Some of the papers were written in collaboration with Nobel Laurettes Abhijit Banerjee and Angus Deaton who was also her advisor in Princeton.
Sarah Baird
Plenary Panel
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She served as co-chair of the second Lancet Commission on adolescent health and wellbeing. She also serves as the quantitative lead for the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) study, the largest global study on adolescence and is on the research team for the Women’s Health and Wellbeing Exemplars in Global Health study. Prof. Baird’s work has been published in leading academic journals including the Quarterly Journal of Economics and The Lancet, and has been featured in media outlets such as The New York Times and The Economist. Baird’s current work investigates different policy approaches to improve outcomes for adolescents ranging from cash transfers, to Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy, to social norms change. She received her PhD from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC Berkeley in 2007.
Lisa Cameron
Plenary Panel
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Much of her research focuses on policy evaluation - understanding the impacts and behavioural implications of public policy, with a focus on social and economic issues. She is particularly interested in the welfare of disadvantaged and marginalised groups. Her research largely focuses on Southeast Asia, and she has researched economic issues in Indonesia for three decades.
Lisa received her PhD in economics from Princeton University in 1996. She was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences in 2013. Her research has been widely published, including in Science and the Quarterly Journal of Economics, and featured in the New York Times and The Economist.
Satish Chand
Plenary Panel
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His research interests include labour migration, fragile states, and the challenges of development. For the past five years, Satish has been researching the nexus between defence and development, drawing on the experiences of external peacekeeping in Bougainville (PNG), East Timor, Liberia, Mozambique, and the Solomon Islands. This research has ramifications for pacification strategies in fragile states.
Asif Saleh
Plenary Panel
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Prior to joining BRAC, Mr Saleh worked as a policy specialist for UNDP Bangladesh. As part of the Government’s Digital Bangladesh initiative, he led the policy effort to expand affordable broadband connectivity across Bangladesh and devised the Government's m-governance strategy. He spent 12 years in Goldman Sachs in different fin-tech roles in New York and London ending his term there as an Executive Director. He has also worked in Glaxo Wellcome, IBM and Nortel.
Mr. Saleh is a non-resident fellow at the Center for Global Development in Washington, D.C. He is also an active member in a range of international networks and alliances advocating inclusive achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. He is a member of the Millions Learning International Advisory Group, Brookings Institute, a member of the advisory group of South Africa-based Innovation Edge, an institution promoting early childhood development. He is a member of the global board for Generation Unlimited, a global body of UNICEF promoting youth skills, and also a member of the global governing council of Water Resource Group 2030.
Mr Saleh chairs BRAC IT Services Limited, co-chairs BRAC Net, and is on the Board of BRAC Bank, bKash, and edotco Bangladesh Ltd. He also chairs the Institute of Informatics and Development.
He was recognised for his work by Asia Society’s Asia 21 programme in 2008, the Bangladeshi American Foundation in 2007, and was selected as an Asia 21 Fellow in 2012. He was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2013.
Mr Saleh holds a Bachelor's degree in computer science and an MBA in management and marketing from the Stern School of Business, New York University.
General Information
Conference venue
The conference will be held at the Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University. The venue address is: JG Crawford Building, 132 Lennox Crossing, Acton ACT 2601. See Google Maps for more details.
If you are attending in person and require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP), please contact the ADEW2026 organising committee at ADEW2026@anu.edu.au
Public transport
Transport Canberra information.
- Bus route 53 stops on Lennox Crossing in front of the Crawford School building. Plan your journey
- The closest light rail stop is Alinga Street station, a 25-minute walk to the Crawford School building. Plan your journey
- Wheelchair accessible taxis must be booked ahead. Phone 139 287, email or online
- ACT Cabs 02 6280 0077 or online
Arriving in Canberra
Canberra Airport is located 8km from the city centre. It is connected to most of Australia’s major cities. As a general guide, a taxi from the airport to the ANU takes around 15-20 minutes and will cost approximately $25 to $50, depending on traffic conditions.
By road, Canberra is located approximately 3.5 hours from Sydney. An hourly coach service is available to connect from the Sydney Airport Domestic terminal to Canberra city (travel time 3.5 hours).
It is also possible to travel to Canberra by train. The Canberra train station is located in the suburb of Kingston, approximately 6km from the Canberra city centre and the ANU.
Parking
Very limited paid visitor parking is available on Lennox Crossing opposite the Crawford School building. Parking fees apply between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Paid parking is also available at the National Museum of Australia, a 400 metre walk from the conference venue.
Conference catering
Registered attendees will be provided with tea and coffee during the morning and afternoon breaks, accompanied by a selection of savoury and sweet refreshments. A hot lunch service will also be available during the lunch break. Please note that catering will primarily be standing, or guests may use the chairs and tables located throughout the Crawford Building lobby areas and outdoor spaces. Food is not permitted inside the lecture rooms.
The conference menu will be halal, with some vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options also available.
For guests wishing to purchase barista-made coffee or additional food throughout the day, Café Mantra is conveniently located within the Crawford Building and will be open from early morning until late afternoon.
Accommodation
It is recommended that guests book accommodation as soon as possible after registration. The following two hotels have secured a special rate for ADEW2026 workshop guests:
- Ovolo Nishi: Please book direct using the code ADEW2026 (no spaces). The Ovolo is the closest hotel option to the Crawford School of Public Policy.
- Novotel Canberra: Please book via this link for 15% off the best available rate.
Call for papers
Invitations for submission to present at ADEW 2026 have now closed.
Please contact the ADEW conference committee if you have a question about your submission.
Submissions should include a full paper (PDF format) along with the following information for all authors:
- Full name
- Position
- Organisation
Submissions should be submitted through Conference Maker by 15 March 2026. Authors will be notified of the outcome in mid-April 2026. We look forward to receiving your submissions.
Financial Aid: Limited financial assistance may be available to support travel for Australian-based PhD students whose papers are accepted for presentation. PhD students wishing to be considered for support must submit a full paper (not just an abstract) and indicate in their submission email that they are applying for financial assistance. Stay tuned for more information.
Conference maker https://editorialexpress.com/cgi-bin/conference/conference.cgi?action=login&db_name=ADEW2026
Important Dates
15 December 2025: Paper submission open
15 March 2026: Paper submissions close
24 April 2026: Notifications of paper acceptance
3 May 2026: Registrations open
28 May 2026: Registrations close
4 - 5 June 2026: Conference dates
ADEW 2026 Organising Committee
- Firman Witoelar, Associate Professor, ANU Indonesia Project, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU.
- Shyamal Chowdhury, Professor, Rajiv Gandhi Chair of South Asian Economics, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, and Director Australia South Asia Research Centre (ASARC), Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU.
- Ryan Edwards, Associate Professor, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, and Deputy Director, Development Policy Centre, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU.
- Martine Mariotti, Professor, Centre for Economic History, Director of the Research School of Economics, ANU.
- Yixiao Zhou, Associate Professor, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, and Director of China Economy Program, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU.
Contact the organising committee: adew2026@anu.edu.au
Additional Events
Guests visiting ANU for ADEW2026 are warmly invited to attend the 21st HW Arndt Lecture by Professor Kunal Sen on Wednesday 3 June 2026 at the Australian National University.
Professor Sen’s lecture, “Informality: why it persists, what can be done about it?”, explores one of the central challenges in development economics and is expected to be of particular interest to ADEW participants arriving in Canberra ahead of the conference.
Further information and registration are available here: https://crawford.anu.edu.au/event/21st-hw-arndt-lecture-professor-kunal-sen