SI 2025 Economic Growth
Organized by Ufuk Akcigit, Francisco J. Buera, and David Lagakos
July 10-11, 2025
Royal Sonesta Hotel, Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge, MA
The format will be 20 minutes for the author, 20 minutes for the discussant, and 20 minutes for general discussion.
Thursday, July 10
8:30 am
Coffee and Pastries
9:00 am

The Dynamics of Technology Transfer: Multinational Investment in China and Rising Global Competition

Jaedo Choi, University of Texas at Austin
George Cui, University of Michigan
Younghun Shim, International Monetary Fund
Yongseok Shin, Washington University in St Louis and NBER

Discussant:
Ana Maria Santacreu, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
10:00 am
Break
10:15 am

The Labor Market Consequences of a Rapid Climate Transition

John R. Grigsby, Princeton University and NBER
Nathan Zorzi, Dartmouth College

Discussant:
Niklas Engbom, New York University and NBER
11:15 am
Break
11:30 am

The Incidence of Distortions (slides)

David Atkin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and NBER
Baptiste Bernadac, University of California, Los Angeles
Dave Donaldson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and NBER
Federico Huneeus, Duke University
Tishara Garg, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Discussant:
Javier Cravino, University of Michigan and NBER
12:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm

How Big Is the Big Push? The Macroeconomic Effects of a Large-Scale Regional Development Program

Andrea Cerrato, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Francesco Filippucci, OECD

Discussant:
Gustavo De Souza, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
2:30 pm
Break
2:45 pm

The Geography of Innovative Firms

Craig A. Chikis, University of Chicago
Benny Kleinman, Stanford University and NBER
Marta Prato, Bocconi University

Discussant:
Martí Mestieri, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
3:45 pm
Break
4:00 pm

How Much Should We Spend to Reduce A.I.'s Existential Risk? (slides)



discussant slides
Charles I. Jones, Stanford University and NBER

Discussant:
Danial Lashkari, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
5:00 pm
Adjourn
Friday, July 11
8:30 am
Coffee and Pastries
9:00 am

A Theory of Endogenous Degrowth and Environmental Sustainability

Philippe Aghion, Collège de France
Timo Boppart, IIES, Stockholm University
Michael Peters, Yale University and NBER
Matthew Schwartzman, University of Michigan
Fabrizio Zilibotti, Yale University and NBER

Discussant:
David Hémous, University of Zurich
10:00 am
Break
10:15 am

Unequal Global Convergence

Shoumitro Chatterjee, Johns Hopkins University
Elisa Giannone, Centre de Recerca en Economia Internacional (CREI)
Tatjana Kleineberg, The World Bank
Kan Kuno, Pennsylvania State University
Luca Looser, Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Discussant:
Todd Schoellman, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
11:15 am
Break
11:30 am

Mechanics of Spatial Growth

Sheng Cai, City University of Hong Kong
Lorenzo Caliendo, Yale University and NBER
Fernando Parro, University of Rochester and NBER
Wei Xiang, University of Michigan

Discussant:
Santiago Franco, Boston University
12:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm

Optimal Fertilizer Policy after a Global Shock

Wyatt Brooks, Arizona State University
Kevin Donovan, Yale University and NBER

Discussant:
Kristina Manysheva, Columbia University
2:30 pm
Break
2:45 pm

Idea Rents and Firm Growth

Timo Boppart, IIES, Stockholm University
Peter J. Klenow, Stanford University and NBER
Reiko Laski, Stanford University
Huiyu Li, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Discussant:
Nils Haakon Lehr, International Monetary Fund
3:45 pm

Are Big Cities Important for Economic Growth?

Matthew Turner, Brown University and NBER
David N. Weil, Brown University and NBER

Discussant:
Gilles Duranton, University of Pennsylvania and NBER
4:45 pm
Adjourn