Call for Papers - Special Issue on "Artificial Intelligence in Finance and the Knowledge Economy"
20-23 September 2026, Ningbo, China
The Nottingham University Business School China, University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), and Fudan Management School, Fudan University, will host a split-site international conference on the theme of the topic above on 20-23 September 2026. The workshop will be organised as a hybrid event both in-person and online and will take place at Fudan School of Management, Shanghai 20-21 September and continue at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo 22-23 September. The economics stream will occur at Fudan, Shanghai and the finance stream will be conducted at UNNC Ningbo. More details will be available on a dedicated workshop website. Following the workshop, a Special Issue of Open Economies Review will publish a selection of papers presented at the conference. The Journal invites theoretical and empirical papers on the conference theme to be included in this Special Issue.
Subject
Artificial intelligence is supposedly reshaping economics and finance by transforming how data is analysed, decisions are made, and markets operate. While there is ample evidence of the operation of AI in the banking and financial industry, and the reaction of stock markets in the AI boom, hard evidence of its effect on the real economy is less forthcoming. To paraphrase Robert Solow about computing, it (AI) is everywhere except in the productivity figures. Recently, Robert Furman of Harvard suggests that without AI capex spending, GDP growth in the US in 2025 would be nearly zero. Financial markets behave as if the AI effect will significantly impact on the supply side of the economy. However, the full implications for labour markets remain elusive. Selected papers will contribute to advancing understanding of how AI reshapes economic and financial systems in an increasingly data-driven world.
Topics (include – but are not limited to)
- Machine learning in economic and financial forecasting
- AI Capital deepening and labour productivity
- Cloud computing, Robotics, and firm organization
- AI innovation, supply-chain and trade
- Large Language Models and workforce composition
- Technical innovation and human capital development
- AI innovation, TFP and long-term economic growth
- Algorithmic trading and financial market dynamics
- AI and financial market efficiency
- Credit screening and risk assessment
- Fintech and SME financing
- Relationship banking in the age of AI
Confirmed Keynote Speakers
Professor Bonnie Buchanan (University of Surrey) https://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/bonnie-buchanan#about
Professor Jun Du (Aston University) https://research.aston.ac.uk/en/persons/jun-du/
Submission procedure for the conference
Please submit your completed paper or extended abstract in PDF file by email attachment to Prof. Zhiguo Xiao (zhiguo_xiao@fudan.edu.cn) for the economic stream and Prof. Xiaoquan Liu (Xiaoquan.Liu@nottingham.edu.cn) for the finance stream.The deadline for the submission for the workshop has been extended to 31 July 2026. Those who have submitted by the earlier deadline will be informed of acceptance by 31 July 2026 and will be invited to submit their completed papers through the Editorial System of the Open Economies Review, specifying the Special Issue. Submissions submitted between 1 July and 31 July, will be informed two weeks following their submission date. The deadline for submission for the Special Issue is 30 November 2026. After a standard – but accelerated – refereeing process decisions will be made by 31 January 2027, and invited revisions will be due by 31 March 2027.
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