Growth Academy Romania 2025
May 22 – May 24, 2025
Bucharest, Romania
Held in Bucharest in May 2025, the Growth Academy ECA brought together policymakers, researchers, and development practitioners from across the region for a three-day, intensive workshop focused on advancing productivity and tackling the middle-income trap. Organized by the University of Chicago in partnership with the World Bank and the National Bank of Romania, the program adapted the core curriculum of the Growth Academy to regional challenges, with sessions on innovation, firm dynamics, and inclusive growth. Participants shared their own policy experiences, engaged directly with leading scholars, and built new networks to support future collaboration and experimentation.
Featured Speakers
Indermit Gill
Chief Economist of the World Bank Group and Senior Vice President for Development Economics
The World Bank Group
“The Middle Income Trap” (Slides)
Philippe Aghion
Collège de France, INSEAD, and the London School of Economics
“The Power of Creative Destruction“ (Slides)
Javier Miranda
Professor, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Head of the Center for Business and Productivity Dynamics, Halle Institute for Economic Research
“Business Dynamism and Productivity in Europe” (Slides)
Ufuk Akcigit
Arnold C. Harberger Professor of Economics, University of Chicago and Co-Director, Growth Academy
“Dynamic Business and Talented People: Micro Foundations of Growth” (Slides)
Asad Alam
Regional Practice Director, Economic Policy, World Bank
“Unleashing Productivity: New Evidence from Eastern Europe and Central Asia”
Norman Loayza
Director, Global Indicators Group, Development Economics, World Bank Group
“Economic Growth: A Practitioner’s Perspective and Applications of the Long-Term Growth Model”
Somik Lall
Senior Adviser, World Bank and Co-Director, Growth Academy
“Powering Growth: Energy and Creative Destruction” (Slides)
Ivailo Izvorski
Chief Economist for Europe and Central Saia
“Greater Heights: Growing to High Income in Europe and Central Asia” (Slides)
