The Political Economy of Trade Policy

The last decades have witnessed an unprecedented surge in the number of free trade agreements in force. At the same time, there has been widespread use of protectionist measures by governments worldwide. This lecture will review the political economy factors (lobbying, electoral incentives) shaping support and opposition to trade agreements and protectionist policies.

2025 Corden Public Lecture presented by Professor Paola Conconi, University of Oxford

Professor Paola Conconi is the Statutory Chair of Economics at the University of Oxford and a Professorial Fellow at New College, Oxford. Prior to joining Oxford, she was a Professor of Economics at the Université Libre de Bruxelles and a member of the European Centre for Advanced Research in Economics and Statistics (ECARES).

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Bologna, a Master of Arts in International Relations from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, and both a Master of Science and a PhD in Economics from the University of Warwick.

Professor Conconi is a Research Fellow of the CEPR International Trade and Regional Economics Program, a CESifo Research Fellow, a Research Associate at the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) at the London School of Economics, and the Director of the CEPR Research Network on Global Value Chains, Trade and Development.

Her research has been widely published in leading economics journals, including the American Economic Review, the Journal of Political Economy, and the Review of Economic Studies. She has also received an Advanced Research Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) to examine the relationship between trade agreements and supply chains.

Professor Conconi’s research interests span international trade, firm organisation, and political economy, making her a highly respected and influential voice in global economic policy.

Come join us for an engaging evening with Professor Paola Conconi from University of Oxford as she delivers the prestigious Corden Lecture. This in-person event promises to be enlightening and thought-provoking, covering a wide range of topics in economics and global affairs. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from one of the leading experts in the field. Reserve your spot now!

Hosted by The University of Melbourne Department of Economics.

For more information and to register, please visit the event webpage here.