‘This Conference Aims at Strengthening HSE University’s Reputation as a Global Research Centre in the Field of Finance’

ICEF-CInSt International Moscow Finance Conference

© ICEF

On November 24-25, 2023, the 12th ICEF-CInSt International Finance Conference is being held. The event shall be organised jointly by the International Laboratory of Financial Economics (LFE ICEF) and the Centre for Institutional Studies (CInSt). LFE Head Vladimir Sokolov and CInSt Acting Director Maria Semenova commented on the participants, key topics to be presented, and how the conference creates a platform for cooperation and co-authorship for experts from all over the world.

Tell us about the main concept of the Conference. What kind of research will be presented?

Vladimir: The 12th ICEF-CInSt International Finance Conference aims at strengthening HSE University’s reputation as a global research centre in the field of finance. We attract both renowned and young researchers from various countries and provide an intellectual platform where experts from leading universities and research centres around the world and our colleagues from HSE University can present their work, exchange ideas, receive feedback, establish academic contacts and research collaborations.

Maria: LFE ICEF and CInSt have extensive experience in holding international conferences on finance, featuring researchers from the best global universities. Taking into account the difficult situation today’s world, we decided last year to combine our efforts to maintain this tradition, while also preserving the position of HSE University as an active and high-class research centre in finance. This year, we are continuing our cooperation and have organized a top-class international conference once again.

From what countries do the participants come from?

Vladimir: The geography covered by the conference’s participants is very extensive. This year, we have many speakers from China, in particular from Peking University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. One of our key speakers is Xuewen Liu from the University of Hong Kong, and another participant has arrived from National Taiwan University. North America is also widely represented, as it features speakers and discussants from the Universities of Toronto, Michigan State, Purdue, Clemson, South Carolina, and Boston College. Europe is represented this year by the Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance and the University of Exeter in the UK. Russia also features renowned participants: our colleagues from the Bank of Russia, as well as representatives of HSE University, will take part in the Conference.

Maria: I would also like to stress that, this year, we have received a record number of applications for participation in the open call for papers – about 40. Furthermore, their geographical coverage is even more impressive. For instance, we have received applications from researchers based out of universities of Münster, New Mexico, Naples, Alberta, as well as from Pennsylvania State University, Temple University, Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, City University of Malaysia, Auckland University of Technology, Rutgers University, etc. I’ll even let you in on a secret: even several our colleagues from the Bank of Russia instantly applied to take part.

Vladimir Sokolov, Head, LFE

© ICEF

Tell us about the Conference’s key speakers and topics

Vladimir: The 12th ICEF-CInSt International Finance Conference will feature two keynote speakers.

The first is Professor Xuewen Liu from the University of Hong Kong, HKU Business School. He works in economic theory and will present a paper on the pricing of financial assets depending on investor preferences.

The second keynote speaker is Professor Andrei Simonov from Michigan State University, Broad College of Business. Andrei specialises in behavioural finance, as well as share and hedge funds, engaging in both empirical and theoretical research. Andrei will be presenting a paper on long-term investment in target date funds.

Both of our keynote speakers actively publish works in Top-3 finance journals, i.e., Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, and Review of Financial Studies.

Maria: As Vladimir has said, we have managed to cover key topics and areas in finance. As such, everyone who works in this extensive field will find a paper to their interest. The selected papers cover both classical and relevant and topical themes, such as ESG in finance, the correlation between finance and pressing social issues, such as fighting poverty etc.

Maria Semenova, Acting Director, CInSt

@ HSE University

How is the programme structured and what is special about it? What will distinguish the 12th Conference from the previous events?

Vladimir: Last year, LFE ICEF aimed to find a balance between empirical and theoretical papers, including projects from various financial fields, while CInSt organised the annual Banking Workshop, which had a special focus on banking sector analysis. At this year’s joint conference, we covered both aspects: the topics of the papers include stock markets, banks, and corporate finance.

Maria: Not just many, but lots of really strong papers have been submitted to the conference, we decided it would take not one, as it had been initially planned, but two days. On the first day, the presentations will be held using a hybrid format, with some held in-person, and others online. On the second day, all presentations and discussions will be held online.

See the programme on the Conference website

Will the participants include researchers from ICEF and CInSt?

Vladimir: We have another fine tradition. Even if the programme mostly comprises of external participants, we try to invite colleagues from HSE University as discussants. This year is no exception: researchers from ICEF, CInSt, and the Faculty of Economic Sciences will prepare discussions, which will take place after each paper. This is how we will promote HSE University as a platform for potential cooperation and co-authorship for researchers from all over the world. A good discussion is essential for both the speaker and the discussant, while also helping to enhance the University’s reputation as one of the leading research centres in financial economics.

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