CEPRA-NBER workshop on aging and health 2025

The Center for Economic and Political Research on Aging (CEPRA) was established in 2012 at the Institute of Economics (IdEP) within USI. Its primary goal is to foster policy debates and promote high-quality research on aging, pension, and health care issues.Since 2017, CEPRA and the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)—the leading American economic research organization—have collaborated on a biennial workshop on “Aging and Health”. This workshop encourages dialogue among junior and senior researchers and highlights cutting-edge scholarship in the economics of aging, health, and health care. The most recent edition took place in 2023 in Lugano.This workshop has become a central event for both CEPRA and IdEP. Since its first edition, it has attracted top scholars from both US and Europe, with many of the presented papers later published in some of the prestigious journals in economics (e.g., American Economic Review, Quarterly Journals of Economics, Econometrics, Journal of Political Economy).For the 2025 edition, more than 90 proposals—submitted by January 7—were received from some of the best universities worldwide. To provide a conducive environment for the exchange of ideas, the workshop remains intentionally small, featuring 10 presentations plus discussants. The participation constraint, the high selection standards, and the curricula of the accepted participants represent a commitment towards high-impact research and a unique opportunity to establish networks and share ideas with other scholars and researchers. This conference is also a unique opportunity for Lugano and Switzerland to stimulate academic research concerning topics of common interest, which are at the center of the economic and political debate. As fertility rates decline, longevity increases, and baby boomers reach older ages, the proportion of elderly individuals continues to rise, particularly in developed economies. As a result, the economic and health policy challenges of aging are more pressing than ever. The workshop will not only deepen our understanding of these demographic trends but also examine the determinants of growing health disparities by education, region, and gender; the role of innovation in the medical sector; the long-run effects of environmental factors, and evaluate potential policy responses.IdEP’s faculty at USI has made significant contributions to international research in health and public economics, with members publishing in the top journals of these fields. Thus, for USI and IdEP, the workshop provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen existing ties with the international academic communities dedicated to the economics of aging and health.Professor Mazzonna, the applicant, is an established researcher in these core areas. His recent publications appear in leading field and general-interest journals. For a list of publications, kindly refer to the attached CV and Prof Mazzonna's personal website.