International research on health, education and labour economics in Essen

Essen Health Conference brings international researchers to the Ruhr region

From 3 to 5 June 2026, the CINCH Research Centre at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), in cooperation with Lund University, will host the 17th Essen Health Conference (EHC) at the Hotel Essener Hof in Essen. Over the past sixteen years, the conference has developed into an internationally recognised forum for research on health, education and labour economics.

Researchers from across Europe, North America, Asia and beyond will come together in Essen to discuss current research findings and methodological developments relating to the economics of human capital. This year, scholars from more than 25 countries across six continents submitted their work to the conference.

Questions relating to health systems, educational inequality and labour market participation are among the most pressing societal and policy challenges worldwide. The conference provides a platform for discussing new empirical research that can contribute to evidence-based policymaking in these areas.

The conference format places particular emphasis on scientific exchange and discussion between researchers from different countries and fields of expertise. In this way, the conference also creates opportunities for long-term international collaboration.

“It is very gratifying to see how the Essen Health Conference has developed into a leading international conference over the years,” says Prof. Dr. Martin Karlsson, organiser of the conference and Director of CINCH at UDE. “A key reason for this success is our commitment to openness and academic quality. Our international scientific committee assesses submissions exclusively on their scholarly merit, irrespective of applicants’ institutional affiliation, national origin, gender or career stage. This consistent focus on academic excellence has helped establish the conference’s strong international reputation and has been essential in fostering its intellectually vibrant and inclusive character.”

This year’s keynote lectures will be delivered by Prof. Melanie Wasserman (UCLA Anderson School of Management) and Prof. Stephanie von Hinke (University of Bristol), two internationally recognised researchers in applied microeconomics and human capital research.

In recent years, the conference has attracted submissions from leading international institutions including the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics and Princeton University. Research presented at previous editions has subsequently been published in internationally leading journals, including the American Economic Review.

“What makes the Essen Health Conference distinctive is its strong culture of intellectual openness and exchange across disciplines and countries,” says Alison Cuellar, Professor at George Mason University, visiting fellow at the UA Ruhr College for Social Sciences and Humanities, and member of the conference’s scientific committee. “The conference combines rigorous academic standards with a welcoming and highly international atmosphere. That commitment to collaboration and diversity was one of the reasons I was drawn to Essen, and it remains one of the conference’s greatest strengths.”

By bringing international researchers to the Ruhr region each year, the conference also contributes to strengthening Essen’s visibility as a location for internationally connected economic and social science research. Networking events accompanying the academic programme provide opportunities for long-term collaboration while also showcasing the Ruhr region as a dynamic academic and cultural environment.

The Essen Health Conference 2026 will take place from 3 to 5 June 2026 at the Hotel Essener Hof in Essen. Participation is limited to registered conference participants.

Further information on the conference and previous editions:
https://www.goek.wiwi.uni-due.de/en/research/conferences/

Background information

The Essen Health Conference was founded in 2009 and is now in its 17th edition. The conference focuses on research in the economics of human capital, with particular emphasis on health, education and labour economics. Over the years, it has developed into a recognised international forum for applied economic research and interdisciplinary scientific exchange.

Held annually in Essen between May and July, the conference has become a recurring meeting point for researchers in health, education and labour economics and attracts participants from leading institutions around the world.

The conference is organised by the CINCH Research Centre at the University of Duisburg-Essen in cooperation with Lund University. Its international scientific committee includes researchers from multiple countries and academic disciplines. The organisers aim to further strengthen the conference’s international network and interdisciplinary exchange in the years ahead.

Previous editions of the conference have received support from the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Kulturstiftung Essen, the CINCH research centre funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Förderverein of the University of Duisburg-Essen and the Research Training Group 2484 “Regional Disparities & Economic Policy”.