8th World Bank / ODI Global / IFS Public Finance Conference

About the conference

The 8th World Bank/ODI Global/IFS Public Finance Conference will take place in Washington, DC, on September 24–25, 2026. Hosted by the Development Economics Vice Presidency and the Fiscal Policy Unit of the World Bank, this annual conference brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss cutting-edge research on public finance, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs).

The primary focus of the conference is on research related L&MICs but we also welcome relevant studies from high-income contexts. We invite submissions across all areas of public finance, including:

• Tax Policy and Administration
• Subsidies and Compensation/Wage Bill Reforms
• Political Economy of Fiscal Reforms
• Public Financial Management, Public Goods Provision, and Procurement
• Cash Transfers, Social Protection and other Poverty Alleviation, and Inequality Reduction Programs
• Artificial Intelligence in Public Finance

Keynote Address

We are pleased to feature the following keynote speaker:

Nathaniel Hendren, Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Format

The conference will take place in person in Washington DC with streaming available for non-presenting attendees. Presenters are expected to attend in person. The organizers will arrange economy-class travel for invited presenters.

Submission

Researchers from academic and policy institutions are invited to submit a full paper (preferred) or an extended abstract of at least two pages by May 15, 2026. Submissions should be made via the conference website. Contributions that reflect collaboration between researchers and policymakers are particularly encouraged. The conference will also include a session featuring presentations by policymakers. Authors of selected papers will be notified by June 2026.

Academic Committee

Laura Abramovsky, Pierre Bachas, Anne Brockmeyer, Rishabh Choudhary, Lucie Gadenne, Pablo Garriga, François Gerard, Hazel Granger, Christopher Hoy, Justine Knebelmann, Kyle McNabb, Joana Naritomi, Panayiotis Nicolaides, Marina Ngoma, Oyebola Okunogbe, Thiago Scot, Mahvish Shaukat, Dario Tortarolo, Yani Tyskerud, Ben Waltmann, Mazhar Waseem.

Visit the conference website here for more information.