12/06/2026
🎥 Looking back at the ABS Household Finance Conference 2026
Over two days, leading scholars from institutions including MIT Sloan, Columbia Business School, INSEAD, Wharton, London Business School, Yale, Harvard, Duke University, and many others gathered at Africa Business School (UM6P) to discuss some of the most pressing questions in household finance.
The conference explored a wide range of topics shaping households' financial lives today: from housing markets, natural disasters, and property insurance to credit access, financial expectations, intergenerational mobility, and demographic change.
A highlight of the event was the Perspective Talk by Stephen Zeldes (Columbia Business School), who reflected on the past, present, and future of household finance, offering valuable insights into the evolution of the field and the challenges that lie ahead.
The conference was also honored to welcome Antoinette Schoar (MIT Sloan School of Management) as keynote speaker. Her contribution added a broader perspective to the discussions, reinforcing the importance of understanding how financial systems, housing markets, and economic transformations shape household outcomes across generations.
Throughout the conference, researchers presented innovative work on topics ranging from tail risk pricing and stock market participation to emergency assistance, household expectations, green mortgages, and intergenerational privilege. These exchanges highlighted the growing relevance of household finance in addressing economic resilience, inequality, and sustainable development.
A sincere thank you to all speakers, discussants and participants whose expertise and engagement made this edition a vibrant forum for intellectual exchange and collaboration.
Here are some highlights from two days of insightful discussions and shared perspectives.
