The World Economic History Congress

In 2009 the International Economic History Association (IEHA) held its XVth World Economic History Congress in Utrecht, The Netherlands, from 3 to 7 August 2009. The organizing institutions were Utrecht University (Research Group Social and Economic History) and the International Institute of Social History.
The World Economic History Congress takes place every three or four years.
It offers excellent opportunities for scholars in economic history from all over the world to present their work, exchange knowledge and views, and set the research agenda for the years to come.

Themes and goals

The theme of the 2009 congress was global economic history. The congress was expected to contribute to the following goals:

• enhance the dialogue with social sciences and economics;
• develop a programme of global economic history;
• integrate business history;
• build better institutions for academic exchange in the internet age.

Sessions covered a wide range of subjects, periods from antiquity to the present day, and a variety of regions around the world. The congress also included a dissertation competition, a poster session for young researchers, and a series of keynote lectures on the ongoing process of transformation of the world economy and its relationship with the aim of sustainability.