24th International Conference on the Development and Underdevelopment in the History of Economic Thought
The University of National and World Economy is the host of the most important annual event of the European Society for the History of Economic Thought (ESHET). The 24th Conference on the Development and Underdevelopment in the History of Economic Thought is running in the period of 8 to 10 October 2021 - in hybrid format.
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The event brought together over 250 scientists from several continents, 60 of them lively in Sofia. Organizers of the large-scale Conference are the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Prof. D.Sc. /Econ./ Nikolay Nenovsky, Director of the Research Center for Monetary and Economic Studies, Lecturer at the UNWE Finance Department as well as at the University of Picardy Jules Verne /UPJV/ in Amiens, France and Prof. Dr. Pencho Penchev, Deputy Chairman of the General Assembly and Head Political Economy Department. A special guest for the opening was the former Chairman of ESHET Prof. Andre Lapidus, Honorary Professor of the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and representative of the Scientific Committee.
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| From the right to the left: Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Prof. Andre Lapidus, Prof. D.Sc. /Econ./ Nikolay Nenovki and Prof. D.Sc. Pencho Penchev |
In the Conference which ranks among the largest international economic scientific forums took also part representatives of the New Bulgarian University, University of Library Science and Information Technology, American University in Blagoevgrad, University of Economics - Varna as well as Bulgarians - professors at universities in France, Germany and the USA.
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| Prof. Lapidus and Prof. Dimitrov are opening the Conference |
Prof. Dimitrov welcomed the participants to the eldest and largest higher economic school in Bulgaria and Southeastern Europe with over 17,000 students and 101-year tradition. He outlined that from the beginning of the academic year, the University is full of life every day and it brings a lot of joy to everyone after the pandemic isolation. Regarding the Conference the Rector pointed out: "All participants have their contribution to the economy so I believe that this Conference will be very interesting and will give all scientists a chance to present their economic research. I would like to express thankfulness to Prof. Nenovsky and Prof. Penchev for the organization of this large-scale event as well as for the opportunity to see each other face to face. I wish you success to the Conference!”
In his welcoming speech Prof. Andre Lapidus also expressed his thankfulness to Prof. Dimitrov for the opportunity to host the event and pointed out that despite the difficulties surrounding the pandemic situation, the organization is up at very high level. "On behalf of ESHET President Richard van den Berg who will join online I would like to say that we are very happy to hold our forum in Bulgaria although some of us are online. This participation is very important for everyone as the Conference was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus. Thanks and good luck!”
"Everyone worked hard to make this event happen here at the UNWE - Sofia, Bulgaria. The interest in the Conference is international and due to it the quality research in economics, politics and culture will increase. The opportunity to hold this event in Bulgaria is of great importance for scientists from the Balkan countries", outlined Prof. Nenovsky /in the picture below/.
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"Huge thankfulness to everyone who joined to the organization ot the event. It is not one of the events we are used to as many of the participants will join online but it is a great step forward in the development of the Conference. It is extremely important to us that there are so many participants with economic research. I am sure that all reports will be exceptional", said Prof. Penchev /in the picture below/.
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| The participants in the Large Conference Hall |
The Conference continued with the presentation of the reports of the participants in the first day - in separate panels, in person and online. Important topics were discussed such as cooperatives and socio-economic development, the academic mobility of Ukrainian economists and its effect on the development of economic education in the 19th and early 20th centuries, from usury to the credit system: Marx and the analysis of historical forms of interest-bearing capital as well as topics about the first women in the economy, etc.
The first day ended with Roundtable Conference on the Monetary Non-Neutrality and Stabilization Policies 50 Years after Lucas’s 'Expectations' Paper.
RESPONSE
Muriel dal Pont Legrand
Professor of Economics at the University of Côte d'Azur, France,
part of a study group on law, economics and governance (GREDEG) and Chairperson of the Roundtable Conference
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"I participate in this Conference every year and I am very happy that this year we managed to implement the event which is the first after the coronavirus for us. I am very happy to be here although most of the participants are online. It is a positive side because it will allow many people who do not have the opportunity to come in person to participate. The reputation of UNWE among us is extremely high and proof of this is the organization of this event. It is a great honour for all of us to be here."
