Call for papers - Economic History and the Welfare State

Workshop in the Centre for Economic Policy Research, University of Copenhagen (CEPR-UCPH).

The aim of the workshop is to bring together researchers studying economic history, public policy, and welfare-state formation through the lens of causal empirical methods and historical data.

Find more information about the workshop.

Call for papers

Deadline for submission of papers: 16 January 2026. 

The workshop calls for papers in economic history broadly defined, with a particular interest in studies analysing the causes and consequences of the welfare state and related institutional developments. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • The origins and development of welfare states and public spending
  • Historical reforms in labor markets, taxation, or redistribution
  • Institutional change and the political economy of the welfare state
  • Economic and social effects of early social insurance, education, and health programs
  • Inequality, living standards, and redistribution in historical perspective
  • The role of local governments, political institutions, and fiscal transfers
  • While the workshop has a focus on the welfare state, we also welcome high-quality empirical work in economic history using causal identification strategies more broadly.

Submission guidelines

A limited budget is available upon request to cover accommodation expenses for up to two nights for presenters. The deadline to submit is January 16, 2026. Authors of selected papers will be informed by the beginning of February. Please submit completed papers and/or extended abstracts to Casper Worm Hansen.