Economic Theory Conference Brings Together Three Nobel Laureates

Nobel Prize in Economics laureates Christopher Pissarides, James Heckman, and Lars Peter Hansen are participating in the 25th Annual Conference of the Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), July 13–18 , at the headquarters of the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPA) in Rio de Janeiro. The event, considered one of the most important international gatherings dedicated to economic theory, will honor the 80th birthday of economist Aloisio Araujo, a researcher emeritus at IMPA and professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV).

The conference will bring together internationally renowned researchers to discuss topics at the forefront of economic theory, such as general equilibrium, financial markets, labor economics, public policy, economic growth, and game theory. “SAET is the leading scientific organization dedicated to the development of economic theory. Among the field’s main current challenges are understanding why some countries, such as Brazil, remain stuck in the so-called middle-income trap and what role institutions play in this process. Another central theme is how to take advantage of the new technologies that are being developed,” explained Araujo.

Among the conference’s plenary speakers are Christopher Pissarides, a professor at the London School of Economics and the University of Cyprus, winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Economics for his contributions to labor market theory; James Heckman of the University of Chicago, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2000 for his pioneering work in econometrics and public policy evaluation; and Lars Peter Hansen, also a professor at the University of Chicago, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2013. The Swedish Academy recognized his empirical and theoretical contributions to the pricing of financial assets.

The conference will also feature other prominent figures in contemporary economic theory, such as José Scheinkman (Columbia University), Michael Woodford (Columbia University), Andreu Mas-Colell (Pompeu Fabra University), Timothy J. Kehoe (University of Minnesota), Felix Kübler (University of Zurich), Piotr Dworczak (Northwestern University), and M. Ali Khan (Johns Hopkins University). Check outthe program here.

A Brazilian researcher is the honoree in this issue

The honoree of this edition, Brazilian Aloisio Araujo, turned 80 in January 2026. A research fellow emeritus at IMPA and professor at the Brazilian School of Economics and Finance at the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV EPGE), Araujo is one of the leading figures in mathematical economics in Brazil.

Over the course of a career spanning more than five decades, he conducted research in the fields of general equilibrium, macroeconomics, financial markets, and the economics of information, publishing in some of the field’s most prestigious scientific journals. Internationally recognized for bridging the gap between mathematics and economics, the researcher has influenced generations of scholars and helped establish Brazil as a center of excellence in mathematical economics.

The program will conclude on July 18 with a tribute to Aloisio Araujo on his 80th birthday, bringing together researchers, alumni, colleagues, and guests to celebrate his scientific career and his legacy in economic theory. “It was with great honor and pleasure that I accepted the invitation from the Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET) for IMPA to host its annual meeting. The Institute accepted this mission with enthusiasm, and my joy was even greater upon learning that part of the conference would be dedicated to celebrating my 80th birthday,” said Araujo.

Hosted and organized by IMPA, the event reinforces the Institute’s role as a center of excellence in research and expands its role as a forum for scientific exchange between mathematics and economics. The 25th Annual Conference of the Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET) is supported by CNPq and Faperj and sponsored by BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development).

“BNDES is pleased to sponsor the 25th annual SAET meeting, which fosters an informed debate on key issues related to the Bank’s mission, disseminating cutting-edge knowledge that can contribute to the improvement of public policies and to economic development, with a positive impact on the lives of Brazilians,” said Marina Moreira, Superintendent of the Relationship, Marketing, and Culture Division at BNDES.

Event History

Organized by the Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET) since 1993, the conference has established itself as one of the leading international forums dedicated to economic theory. Held biennially until 2009 and annually since 2010, the event brings together researchers from around the world to present and discuss scientific advances in areas such as game theory, general equilibrium, mechanism design, macroeconomics, finance, international trade, public economics, and industrial organization.