Economic Shrinking in Development

Call for Papers

Journal: Economic History of Developing Regions
Publisher: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
Special Issue
Abstract Submission Deadline: 01 September 2026
Manuscript Submission Deadline: 01 June 2027
Expected Publication: Spring 2028

Economic History of Developing Regions invites contributions for a Special Issue examining economic shrinking—defined as a year of negative per capita income growth—and its role in long-run development dynamics, with a particular focus on developing countries in the Global South.

About the Special Issue

Economic shrinking is a recurring feature of development, yet its causes, consequences, and governance have received considerably less attention than economic growth and structural transformation. Economies vary in both the frequency and severity of shrinking episodes and in their capacity to respond to them.

The Special Issue aims to place economic shrinking at the centre of analysis, bringing together perspectives from economic history, development economics, political economy, and related disciplines. Contributions may investigate shrinking as a macroeconomic outcome as well as a social, institutional, and political process.

Topics of Interest

Submissions may address, but are not limited to:

Economic shrinking and long-run development
Negative per capita income growth
Growth accounting and shrinking episodes
Institutional change during economic downturns
Government and policy responses
Demographic pressures
Technological capability and innovation
Macroeconomic fragility
Public finance constraints
External economic shocks
Conflict and economic shrinking
Climate events and economic contraction
Long-term historical patterns
Social responses to economic downturns
Expectations during shrinking episodes
Inequality and economic shrinking
Wellbeing during economic contraction
Social capabilities and resilience
Governance during periods of shrinking
Policy strategies for mitigating downturns
Frequency, duration, and depth of shrinking episodes
Measurement of economic shrinking
Identification of shrinking regimes
Descriptive and causal analyses of shrinking

Geographic and Research Scope

Contributions must concern developing countries in the Global South, understood by the journal as countries in:

Latin America
Africa
Asia

There is no restriction on historical period or income level.

The Special Issue welcomes country-specific and cross-country studies, North–South comparisons, and research covering diverse geographic and historical settings.

Research and Methodological Approaches

The editors welcome:

Theoretical contributions
Methodological contributions
Empirical research
Comparative and cross-country studies
Country-specific case studies
Long-term historical analysis
Qualitative historical research
Econometric analysis
Archival research
Quantitative historical reconstruction
Mixed-methods research
Descriptive and causal approaches

Submissions from early-career scholars, female scholars, and researchers from developing countries are particularly encouraged.

Abstract Submission Requirements

Authors were invited to submit an extended abstract of approximately 1,500 words to the Guest Editors by 01 September 2026.

The abstract should summarize:

Research question
Data
Proposed analytical methods
Preliminary results, where available

Proposals are evaluated according to:

Relevance to the research project
Strength of the theoretical or empirical contribution
Clarity of writing

Approximately 10 proposals are expected to be selected and provided with editorial feedback.

Important: The abstract deadline of 01 September 2026 has already passed. According to the call, selection of proposals precedes the invitation to submit full draft papers, so the 01 June 2027 full-paper deadline should not be treated as an open submission route for new proposals unless the Guest Editors confirm otherwise.

Paper Development Workshop

Authors of selected proposals will be invited to prepare full draft papers for a workshop scheduled for April 2027.

The workshop is expected to be held either:

Online, or
On site at the University of Manchester

The final format depends on available funding.

Submission Information

Full Paper Submission Deadline: 01 June 2027

Following the workshop, invited authors will submit their full papers through the journal's manuscript submission system.

All manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review in accordance with the journal's standards. Final decisions regarding inclusion in the Special Issue will be made by the journal's editorial team.

Expected Publication: Spring 2028.

Submit to Economic History of Developing Regions

Economic History of Developing Regions – Instructions for Authors

Economic History of Developing Regions – Journal Page