The Festival of Economics takes place every year in Trento since its first edition in 2006.
Every year, Nobel prize winners and internationally-renowned scholars, politicians, intellectuals, economists, trade unionists and journalists, discuss and debate with the audience of the festival on extremely important and contemporary issues.
Their aim is to make economics more understandable to allow everyone to access it and, at the same time, to shed light on the economists’ way of thinking for people who usually are not very familiar with the subject.
Conferences, meetings, debates, round tables, shows and events follow one another over four days at the end of May in the city’s historic center.
The halls used for the festival are often located in the city’s most beautiful and characteristic palaces, among which the Buonconsiglio Castle, residency of the prince-bishop from the early 1200s until 1796, Palazzo Geremia, a fascinating Renaissance residence, Palazzo Roccabruna, which dates back to 1500s, now seat of the Chamber of Commerce, Palazzo Thun, a Gothic-Renaissance building, Palazzo Trentini, an opulent 1700s residence, and the Teatro Sociale.
The University of Trento is involved in the festival at different levels and hosts many of the events in its departments. Many of the University’s professors, as usual, attend as speakers or as coordinators.
Also, during the festival, a University exhibition stand is installed in the Cathedral square, where students are available to provide information and materials on the events.
The initiative committee includes the University of Trento, the Autonomous Province of Trento and the city’s municipality.
The Giuseppe Laterza & figli publishing house and the Sole 24 ore group are members of the organizing committee.