"Science Thrives on Exchange"

What is the main purpose of the Macroeconomics Workshop, and how has the format evolved over the years?

The goal has remained the same since the very first workshop: to promote exchange among researchers in the field of macroeconomics. It’s about discussing current research, sharing new ideas, and learning from one another. At the same time, we want to give young scholars and PhD students a platform – that’s a central part of the concept. Thanks to its international orientation, the workshop brings together a wide range of perspectives and takes academic dialogue to a global level.

This international aspect is also reflected in the organization – can you please give us an insight on that?

The workshop is organized by a “two-track” team: an international organizing committee consisting of Gabriel Lee (University of Regensburg), David Andolfatto (University of Miami), and Martin Gervais (University of Georgia), who work closely with the local organizing team at IHS – Sebastian Koch, Michael Reiter, and Leopold Sögner. The event coordination is handled primarily by Claudia Royc from the IHS Events Team. This combination of international perspective and local expertise has certainly contributed to the workshop’s success and continuity.

It seems that a lot of people contribute to making this conference possible. How does that shape the event?

Over the past twenty years, a strong community has developed around the workshop. Beyond academic connections, many personal relationships have formed as well. This was especially strongly felt this year, as the workshop was dedicated to the memory of Markus Hagedorn. Markus spent a year at the IHS before moving to the University of Oslo in 2013. He shaped the workshop for many years – both as a macroeconomist and as a person – and sadly passed away earlier this year after a brief illness.

What does the workshop mean for the IHS?

For the IHS, the workshop represents a valuable link to the international research community. It brings together leading and early-career researchers, strengthening the exchange between generations and institutions – something that is particularly evident in the “Greenhorn Sessions” on the first day of the workshop. After two decades, the event has become a fixed point of macroeconomic research at the IHS and beyond. It’s always a highlight to be part of such an international event and to help shape the IHS as a lively hub of academic exchange.

Speaking of highlights – what stood out at this year’s workshop?

Once again, the strong international presence was remarkable: participants came from across Europe and North America, and many presentations were closely aligned with IHS’s current research priorities. A particular highlight was Espen Henriksen’s (BI Norwegian Business School) talk, “Financial Markets can Explain Exchange Rates”, based on one of the last research projects co-authored by Markus Hagedorn – a topic that is also highly relevant to ongoing research at the IHS.

The program also featured a range of other exciting presentations, including “Broken Ladders: AI, Teamwork, and the Dynamics of Skill Formation in the Workplace” by Zsófia Bárány (Central European University), “Networks, Sorting, and the Productivity Implications of Immigrant Assimilation” by Luke Rawling (Queen’s University), and “New Keynesian Employment Multipliers” by Huw Lloyd-Ellis (Queen’s University). These and many other contributions illustrate how closely the workshop is connected to key research areas at the IHS.

What’s your takeaway from this year’s Macroeconomics Workshop?

The anniversary clearly showed how vital and relevant scientific exchange remains. The workshop was a great success – both academically and personally – and also a meaningful opportunity to honor Markus Hagedorn and his contributions to the research community. We look forward to continuing this tradition in the coming years.

Further Information about the Macroeconomics Workshop can be found here.