The Markets & Society conference seeks to foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration across disciplines, ideological perspectives, and backgrounds, focusing on advancing inquiry, contestation, and impactful research rooted in mainline political economy. We invite scholars, students, and practitioners to submit paper abstracts (250 words in length) and entire sessions (consisting of 3-4 papers) on the role of markets and society in human life. Such research could explore broad topics, like those below, or particular questions in political economy. 

• How do free and responsible people live peacefully and productively together?

• What are the proper roles and limits of governments and civil society?

• What is the material and moral potential of markets?

• What is the role of contestation, inquiry, and humility in academia and policy? 

The conference is open to students, scholars, analysts, policymakers, and other professionals. There is no registration fee. Participants are, however, responsible for their travel and lodging expenses.

Instructions to submit a session proposal (3-4 papers):

Step 1. Ask each presenter to submit their paper abstract individually here (or submit the abstracts on their behalf).

Step 2. Email the following information to marketsandsociety@mercatus.gmu.edu.
– Session title
– Brief session description
– Titles of the papers, authors and/or their submission numbers
– Name of the session chair, including institutional affiliation and email address

The submission deadline is March 31, 2026.