!! Please scroll down to register for the conference !!
About Us
Rethinking Economics Genève is a student association whose goal is to promote a pluralistic vision of economics at the University of Geneva. Specifically, it aims to highlight the pluralism of theories and methods as well as the interdisciplinarity of economics. The Rethinking Economics Genève association was re-established in September 2023 after a first attempt in 2017. We are always looking for new members. Don’t hesitate to contact us at geneve@rethinkeconomics.org if you want to join. See you soon!
Semester Program
Through various events such as reading circles, documentary film screenings and other workshop formats, Rethinking Economics Genève creates a space for exchange between students of all levels and backgrounds.
Since October 2023, RE Genève has been publishing a monthly column in the regional newspaper Le Courrier, discussing in an accessible format and from a critical perspective economic theory as well as current events.
On April 11, 2025, we will organize a conference on “Funding the Ecological Transition: Financial, Monetary and Fiscal Policy Approaches”, which will be linked to other internal preparatory events. Scroll down for all relevant information.
* Registration Deadline is March 9. Registration does not guarantee conference attendance. After the registration deadline, we will contact you to confirm participation and provide details.
The climate crisis is undeniable, yet the current political and economic frameworks—rooted in austerity and conventional market practices—are insufficient for an urgent ecological transition. Mainstream approaches often fall short, constrained by outdated paradigms and resistance to new ideas. This is surprising given the wealth of research and innovative solutions from academic institutions and organizations that propose alternative funding methods. These solutions often struggle for recognition because they challenge the status quo. Yet bold, unconventional ideas are essential in this global emergency to secure a sustainable, liveable future.
Many institutions, organizations and economists are already pushing these boundaries and developing progressive ideas for funding the transition. The challenge now is to connect these efforts, encourage collaboration, and amplify their impact. Students and young scientists play a crucial role as the next generation of economists, bridging academia and on-the-ground organizations. Their fresh perspectives and energy drive new ideas into action. In partnership with the Young Scholar Initiative, the Young Scholar Sessions provide a platform for students and PhD candidates to present their work and engage in discussions. By including topic experts, these sessions promote knowledge exchange across generations and between researchers and practitioners.
The “Rethinking Economics” conference aims to create a space to address this pressing crisis from different perspectives, share knowledge, and connect ideas. With the theme “How to Fund the Ecological Transition?”, the first edition of this conference will address one of the most pressing issues of our time. Taking place in Geneva – an international centre for politics, economics, and sustainability – the conference aims to bring together students, academics, institutions, and organizations to share approaches on how to fund such a transition.
Our venue is fully accessible. According to our current plan, all sessions will take place on the ground floor, ensuring easy access for all participants. The restroom facilities are also designed to be barrier-free.If you would like more details, you can visit the venue’s website for additional information. Should you have any specific accessibility requirements, please feel free to contact us.
Due to planning constraints and room capacity, we can only accommodate a limited number of participants. Still, we strongly encourage everyone interested to submit their application. Following the registration deadline, we will contact you to confirm your participation and provide all essential information.
We’re pleased to inform you that participation in the conference is free of charge. The only expense you’ll need to cover yourself is the cost of lunch. For more information about our shared lunch arrangements, please take a look at the “Where can I have lunch?” section.
Unfortunately, as Rethinking Economics Geneva, we cannot provide financial support for attending the conference as an audience member.
However, if you are conducting research on the topic and would like to present your work, we strongly encourage you to indicate this and provide information about your paper in the registration form. Through our cooperation with the Young Scholars Initiative (YSI), travel expenses for presenters in the Young Scholar Session can be covered up to approximately 200 CHF, along with two overnight stays. Please note that there is a selection process, and your application as a young scholar presenter does not guarantee participation or cost coverage by YSI. We recommend carefully reviewing all application guidelines and submitting a comprehensive application to maximize your chances of support.
At this time, we can’t provide a definitive answer regarding catering. We’re working on arranging a group lunch at the university cafeteria for approximately 10-15 CHF per person, but we’re still in discussions with the relevant departments. There will be a vegetarian option, but no vegan option. If you have any food intolerances, we would advise you to take care of your own catering. We’ll be able to provide more detailed information by mid-March when we send out the participation confirmations. We appreciate your patience and will keep you updated here as soon as we have more concrete information.
Our event will take place at L’ESPACE. Address: 1, chemin du 23-août – 1205 Geneva
Public Transportation You can easily reach us by public transport. We are located just a few meters from the Palladium stop, served by streetcar 14 and bus D. From Geneva’s main train station (Cornavin), you can arrive at L’ESPACE in approximately 12 minutes by taking the tram line 14 in the direction of “Bernex”.
Walking If you prefer to walk from the main train station, L’ESPACE is approximately a 17-minute walk away.
We strive to make the conference a place of respectful intellectual exchange that is free from discrimination and violations of participants’ personal boundaries.
If you feel that the organizers or individual participants are not living up to these principles and rapid action is required, please report this to the reception desk or (anonymously if you wish, by telephone) to a member of the organization team. The persons responsible and the relevant telephone number will be announced on the day of the conference. In non-urgent cases, you can also inform the organizers in writing at geneve@rethinkeconomics.org about problems and make suggestions. Credible complaints against participants can lead to their exclusion from the current or future conferences.
Application Form: We collect this data solely for the purpose of conducting and organizing our conference, based on your consent. The data will be used exclusively for confirming your participation, communication, and conference planning. Your information will be used confidentially and exclusively by the organization team of Rethinking Economics Geneva and the Young Scholars Initiative. Within two weeks after the conference ends, we will delete your data from our systems. Please note, however, that we use Google Forms, and Google may have access to the entered data. You have the right to request information about, correct, or delete your data. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via email.
During the Conference: Please note that photos will be taken during the conference to document the event. These recordings may be published on our website and social media channels. By attending the conference, participants agree to this.
Join Young Scholar Sessions!
Are you a Master’s student, PhD student, or a recent graduate? Are you conducting research on how fiscal, monetary, or financial policies can promote the ecological transition? Would you like to present your findings and discuss them with other students and experts in the field? We invite you to apply to the Young Scholar Sessions, hosted in collaboration with the Young Scholar Initiative (YSI).
All information about the Call for Papers, what to expect and how to finance your trip can be found here.
Travel and Accommodation Funding: Thanks to YSI, some presenters will receive funding to cover travel and/or accommodation costs. Here’s what you need to know:
1.Travel Costs:
Up to €200 per person (in some cases, slightly higher amounts may be approved).
Please ensure your travel expenses stay within this limit.
2. Accommodation:
Twin rooms at a hotel about 20 minutes on foot (or 15 minutes by tram) from the venue.
Rooms will be shared with another participant of the same gender.
3. Conditions for Funding
You must be registered on the YSI website before applying. Register here.
If you don’t require funding, registration is not mandatory.
Funding decisions will be made during the selection process.
If you are applying for YSI funding and have visa-related questions, issues, or any other inquiries regarding the Call for Papers, please email YSI at: kewg@youngscholarinitiative.org.
Organizing Team
Aloïs Chevassus À L’Antoine, Carmen Cobreros Ramirez, Elena Franko, Gaia Valenti, Oscar Payne, Sara Rosic
