WSB University at the prestigious European Central Bank conference

Leading figures in global economics, representatives of the European Central Bank’s authorities and experts from top American universities met in Frankfurt am Main during the 11th ECB Annual Research Conference.

The conference’s special guest was Paul Krugman - a laureate of the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel and one of the world’s most influential contemporary economists. His academic achievements include research on international trade and economic geography - issues of particular importance at a time of growing geopolitical tensions and changes taking place in global supply chains.

The event was also attended by Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, who is among the most important figures shaping Europe’s monetary and economic policy.

The invited experts also included distinguished representatives of global economics: Stephen Redding of Stanford University, David Yang of Harvard University and Arnaud Costinot of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The central banking community was represented by Boris Vujčić, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, and Philip R. Lane, Member of the ECB’s Executive Board.

The conference was held on 16 -17 September 2026 at the headquarters of the European Central Bank. Its 11th edition was devoted to economic geopolitics and the transformations taking place in the international trading system. The meeting brought together representatives of academia, central banking and institutions responsible for shaping economic policy.

Marta Pikiewicz participated in the event, representing WSB University. The conference provided an opportunity to learn about the latest research and analyses and to take part in an international discussion on the most important challenges facing the European and global economies.

The global economy in the face of geopolitical change
The discussions focused on the impact of geopolitics on international trade, the future of globalisation, economic security, industrial policy, sanctions and strategic interdependencies between countries and regions. Particular attention was paid to the consequences of these processes for Europe and its position in the changing balance of economic power.

The latest research and analyses were presented during the conference, combining the perspective of the academic community with the experience of central banking representatives. This made it possible to examine the ongoing transformations through the lens of both economic theory and decisions influencing the development of the European economy.

The participation of a WSB University representative in the conference organised by the European Central Bank strengthens the international dimension of the University’s activities and its presence in the debate on current academic and economic challenges.

Photos – European Central Bank:
https://multimedia.ecb.europa.eu/web/3f3c0123dbe063ca/ecb-annual-research-conference-2026/