Giorgio Mortara Prize
For the best paper in economics co-authored by an Italian-Brazilian research team.
Call for Submissions
The Italian-Brazilian Economics Association is awarding a prize worth € 1,000 for the best paper in economics co-authored by an Italian-Brazilian research team.
The Scientific Committee of the prize is soliciting working papers from any area of economics and on any topic.
The winning article will be announced in early 2026. One member of the research team will be invited to attend the 2026 AIBE Workshop, which will take place in Italy, in order to present the paper.
To apply
Submit a copy of your manuscript, together with contact details, names and affiliations of all co-authors, and proofs of AIBE membership. Annual membership can be obtained here. It is valid for 1 year and starts at 2 euros.
Submissions for 2026 are now closed. Please check again in early 2027.
Eligibility and Rules
- Authors may be of any nationality. Yet, at least one co-author should be based at an Italian academic or research institution, AND at least one co-author should be based at a Brazilian academic or research institution.
- Submissions should be in English and must be working papers not yet accepted for publication at the time of submission. However, they may be under review.
- The Scientific Committee will consider contributions from any area of economics and on any topic, even if unrelated to Italy, Brazil or to the topic of the 2026 AIBE Workshop (yet to be announced).
- At least one co-author should be a member of AIBE.
- The winning paper will be selected based on academic criteria of originality, rigour, clarity and contribution to scholarship.
Scientific Committee
Who is Giorgio Mortara?
Giorgio Mortara (Mantua, 1885 - Rio de Janeiro, 1967) was an Italian-Brazilian economist and demographer. During 1924-38, he taught at Bocconi University in Milan.
In 1939, he emigrated to Rio de Janeiro to escape the fascist Racial Laws. Hired by the newly founded IBGE (Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics), he worked as technical advisor on the 1940 Brazilian National Census.
He started the IBGE's Laboratory of Statistics and is regarded as the founder of modern demographic analysis in Brazil. Except for a four-year stint at the Sapienza University of Rome (1956-60), he lived in Rio until the end of his life.
Official Launch of the Prize
The Giorgio Mortara prize was officially launched during the 1st AIBE Workshop, held on 4 July 2025 at the EAESP-FGV in Sao Paulo.
The launch ceremony was opened by Luca J. Uberti, who highlighted Mortara's significance for our Association, and closed by Fábio Mortara, Giorgio's grandson, who presented a personal and professionional biography of the Italian-Brazilian economist.
Past Winners
Banks’ Physical Footprint, Digital Payment Technologies, and Fintech Growth
Lucas Mariani (Bocconi University) & Bernardo Ricca (INSPER) & José Renato Ornelas (Banco Central do Brasil)
