The Istituto Internazionale di Storia Economica “F. Datini”and the European School for Training in Economic and Social Historical Research (ESTER) announce their sixth jointly-organized Datini-ESTER Advanced Seminar for economic and social historians on 10th-15th May 2020, in Prato (Italy) on Consumption.

We particularly welcome papers on consumption by households, its share in total income, its structure and the role of fashion and cultures in shaping it. In addition, papers may deal with the commercial strategies employed to sell luxury products and how these stimulated demand. Taste, distinction, habit, and peer pressure may also be covered by participants, as these provide an opportunity to dis-cuss ideas about personal and social capital in history. Finally questions about the importance of durable and non-durable goods may be addressed together with geographical differences in consumption and the underlying causes. Papers can cover any relevant aspect and any period from Antiquity until today.

The workshop will bring together a number of senior researchers from different countries. Prior to the workshop, students will be asked to prepare a paper. They will have the opportunity of presenting their research project dealing with one or more core problems of their research field and discussing them with both senior researchers and other fellow students. Each paper will be presented by the author during the seminar and then examined and discussed by one of the participating students and by one of the instructors, after which a general discussion among all participants will take place.

This Advanced Datini-ESTER Seminar is open to 15 PhD-students and early career scholars (who finished their doctorate less than five years prior to the seminar).

The deadline for application is 15 October and the form, as well as additional information, can be found on the ESTER website:https://www.ru.nl/posthumus/ester-international-programme/datini-ester-advanced-seminar-2020/