Our annual International Seminar in Economic Geography (ISEG) took place at our institute during the week of June 12th to June 16th, 2023. Our guest, Prof. Raquel Ortega-Argiles, traveled from the University of Manchester to join us. For the seminar, she chose the title: "Spatial effects of shocks on the economic geography of European countries and regions: empirical evidence and policy implications." The topic of crises and their impact on the economic activities of affected countries is particularly timely and exciting after the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit, and it generated great interest among students and staff. To start, quantitative calculation methods and approaches for analyzing the effects of crises were presented. In the following days, the current issues of COVID-19 and Brexit were discussed, focusing on their impact on value chains and competition, among other aspects. Additionally, political implications were presented.
Prof. Raquel Ortega-Argiles and 18 students engaged daily in the first block with the topics she selected, and in the second block, they interacted with each other through various games and group tasks.
On Tuesday, the traditional joint evening dinner with the students and the ISEG guest took place. At the Spandau restaurant, everyone gathered to enjoy burgers and salad, engaging in casual conversations and getting to know each other outside the seminar content.
We extend our gratitude to all the students who contributed with their exciting presentations, making the seminar interactive. We also want to express our special thanks to Prof. Raquel Ortega-Argiles for her engaging lectures and insights into her work.
