The seventh annual conference, focusing on the Eastern Ethiopia Social and Economic Development, was organized by the Ethiopian Economics Association (EEA) in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), and EEA Chapters at Dire Dawa, Jigjiga, and Haramaya Universities on October 16, 2021 at Dire Dawa Ras Hotel. The conference attracted about 120 participants including professionals from regional bureaus, Universities (Dire Dawa, Jigjiga, Oda Bultum and Haramaya), NGOs, private sector representatives, University students, and EEA members in the Chapters.
The conference was officially opened by Dr. Solomon Zerihun vice president of Research & Community Service at Dire Dawa University, after welcome notes of Prof Mengistu Ketema, CEO of the EEA, and Mr. Michael Troester resident representative of FES. Prof. Fekadu Beyene, from Haramaya University, has also delivered a good keynote speech to the participants. During the one-day conference, one panel discussion and five research papers were presented and discussed. The panel discussion was on the ten-year development plan at the National and Dire Dawa regional levels focusing on the Agricultural and Service Perspectives. The five papers that focused on the regional socio-economic conditions were on the following topics:
· Dynamics of Multidimensional Poverty in the context of Climate-induced Shocks: The Ethiopian Perspective
· Impact of Contract Breach on Farm Investment and Welfare of Farm Households in East Hararghe Zone of Oromia, Ethiopia
· Choice of Market Outlet and Its Effect on Market Gain of Smallholder Potato Farmers in Eastern Ethiopia
· The Effects of Fiscal Policy Shocks on Macroeconomic Variables in Developing Countries: A Meta-Analysis of the DSGE Literature
· Revisiting Nutrition-Labour Productivity Link: New Empirical Evidence from Farm Households in Ethiopia
The conference was financed by the FRIEDRICH EBERT STIFTUNG.
