On Wednesday, the second floor of the Sarfatti 25 building was bustling with students even as the afternoon morphed into evening. Aula Franceschi, one of the most prestigious rooms at Bocconi, filled up quickly with students. Chatter and movement halted immediately as the speakers settled and began the inauguration of the Bocconi Economic Journal (BEJ).
Under the large screen, a blend of Professors and students sat on the chairs. Professor Jerome Adda represented the department of Economics, while Roberto Fani and Alberto Dario Zanettin represented the student component of the Journal. Professor Michael Spence, Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2001, was the invited speaker.
Professor Adda introduced the event remarking that few universities publish student research around the world, so the BEJ is a unique addition in the already vast cultural panorama of Bocconi.
Roberto Fani, one of the founding members and now chief student editor, explained that the idea required more than six months of planning to become a reality. He connected the importante of surprise to research, noting that the best works should elicit genuine marvel.
After the introductions, Professor Spence took the stage to deliver a speech that was both authoritative and interactive. Before beginning his lecture, Professor Spence expressed delight for the newly created Journal, and expressed hope that it may become a place for new and unconventional ideas to flourish. He then discussed his views of the world economy in the coming decade, and explained that the interaction between colliding forces can generate both challenges and opportunities. However, given that elections had just occurred in the United States, Professor Spence decided to opt for an impromptu poll with the audience to choose the topic of the discussion: the world economy or US elections? A majority seemed to agree for the latter. Hence, after giving a general overview, Professor Spence discussed the effects of a second Trump presidency. In particular, he noted that equilibria of power will change with allies and that Europe should find space to implement the Draghi report.
After a long applause for Professor Spence, Alberto Dario Zanettin concluded the event by explaining how the submission process for the Journal works. Students are encouraged to submit individual or group works produced at Bocconi or elsewhere, as long as they are either current students or have left Bocconi no longer than two years prior to submission.
Overall, the inauguration of the Bocconi Economic Journal was a success which seems a prelude to more to come.
I’m always looking for things that give me the impression I exist. I’m not a magician, so I write. And take some pictures along the way. I also happen to be in ESS.
