The States and Markets Working Group of the Young Scholars Initiative, which is an initiative of the Institute for New Economic Thinking, is organising a workshop at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa from 12th-13th March 2026 that will discuss critiques of contemporary, postcapitalist visions and strategies to realise such visions. The deadline for abstracts is on 30th January 2026.
A summary of the workshop from the event’s website can be found below:
Decades of rising inequality, precarious work, and ecological destruction—worsened by recurring crises that disproportionately impact marginalized groups—have fueled growing skepticism about our economic system. While capitalism is widely critiqued, fewer efforts focus on constructing alternatives that serve the many rather than the privileged few. Reform attempts often address only symptoms, leaving structural flaws intact. Building on a year-long, self-organized reading group on postcapitalist economics involving PhD students from Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, University of Pisa and University of Siena, we aim to expand that collaborative space by fostering a pluralistic and international in-person exchange on contemporary realities and postcapitalist perspectives. Our goal is to empower early-career scholars committed to transformative economic theories, moving beyond capitalism critiques and actively engaging with alternative socio-economic frameworks and models that transcend existing paradigms.
The workshop will span two days and be structured around three key thematic streams:
1. The Future of AI and Big Data: From Surveillance Capitalism to Cooperative and Human-Centered Visions
- Ownership and control in Big Data Capitalism
- Platform labor and digital work
- Cooperative platforms and decentralized AI
- Human-centered technological change
2. Contemporary Ecological Crises and a New Politics of Life
- Scrutinizing green capitalism
- Degrowth, post-extractive economies, and regenerative models
- Social and ecological processes sustaining and regenerating life
3. Postcapitalist Pathways for Transitioning Economies
- Alternatives beyond market and state
- Historical case studies
- Centralized and decentralized planning theory and praxis
How to attend:
In this workshop, taking place on the 12th and 13th of March 2026, we aim to alternate sessions led by senior speakers with presentations from young scholars eager to share their work and receive feedback. Anyone interested in the topic is encouraged to apply and submit an abstract. We are able to offer accommodation for two nights and travel funding for up to ten participants, but please complete the application form even if you do not require financial support.
Deadline: 30th January 2026
You can find out more about the workshop here.