On November 11th and 12th, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) and the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies at the University of Illinois held a special conference to honor the contributions of Professors Werner Baer and Geoffrey Hewings to the Center’s legacy. Through their work with CLACS, the Lemann Center, and the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL), Professors Baer and Hewings have shaped the careers of generations of scholars, equipping them with the tools to address the complex social, environmental, and macroeconomic challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean.
The two-day seminar brought together over 15 presenters from a wide variety of disciplines and institutions. Topics ranged from labor migration and environmental issues to productivity and regional economic dynamics.
The conference featured thematic panels that touched on urgent regional topics, including:
- Labor and Migration Issues in Latin America and the Caribbean
- Environmental and Regional Economic Challenges
- The Spatial Dimension of Political Economy Analysis
- Building Networks and Capacities in Latin America: CLACS and REAL’s Role
- Productivity and Regional Economic Dynamics in Latin America
These discussions offered a deeper understanding of how economic and social forces shape the region and underscored the importance of continued academic engagement in addressing these issues.
We are grateful to all the participants whose contributions enrich our community and impulse the advancement of Latin America through their diverse areas of study.
Presenters:
- Carlos R. Azzoni, Professor of Economics, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil
- Grace Carolina Guevara Rosero, Assistant Professor of Economics, Ecuador National Polytechnic School, Ecuador
- Alexander Sarango-Iturralde, PhD Student, École Doctorale Économie Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne, and Researcher, Labor Observatory, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
- Andrés García-Suaza, Professor of Economics, Universidad del Rosario, Colombia, and Research Fellow, Global Labor Organization & Network of Researchers, Banco de la República, Colombia
- Renato Schwambach Vieira, Professor, Catholic University of Brasília, Brazil, and Researcher, Economic Research Institute Foundation, Brazil
- Eduardo Amaral Haddad, Professor, Department of Economics, University of São Paulo, Brazil, and Director, Regional and Urban Economics Lab (NEREUS), Brazil
- Natalia Cantet, Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Public Health, Augusta University, USA
- Felipe Guimarães dos Santos, Master's Student in Economic Theory, Institute of Economic Research, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil
- Jaime Bonet-Morón, Director, Center for Regional Economic Studies (CEER), Colombia
- Edmund Amman, Professor of Brazilian Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands, and Visiting Professor, SAIS, Johns Hopkins University, USA
- Pedro Eloseguí, General Manager of Economic Research, Central Bank of Argentina
- Nancy Lozano Gracia, Lead Economist, The World Bank
- André Chagas, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil
- José E. Durán Lima, Economic Affairs Officer, International Trade and Integration Division, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
- Roberto N. Fattal Jaef, Senior Economist, Development Economics Vice-Presidency, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
