Santiago Lago co-organises IDEAGOV International Conference 2026 on fiscal equalisation and decentralised governance

Santiago Lago helped bring together leading international scholars to discuss the role of equalisation mechanisms in decentralised systems of government. The conference, held in Santiago de Compostela on 4 and 5 November, focused on the theme“Equalization in Decentralized Governance”.

The event was organised by Ignacio Lago, Santiago Lago-Peñas and Jorge Martínez-Vazquez, and brought together researchers from universities and institutions across Europe, North America and Africa to examine the effects of fiscal equalisation on regional development, convergence, redistribution and political stability.

The conference featured contributions from scholars affiliated with institutions including Georgia State University, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Universidade de Lisboa, Queen’s University, University of Ottawa, Hunter College (CUNY), University of Pretoria and Indiana University, among others. Topics ranged from fiscal equalisation and regional convergence to administrative capacity, regional policy and federal transfers.

The opening session included Rosa M. Crujeiras Casais, Rector of the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, alongside Ignacio Lago and Santiago Lago-Peñas, highlighting the importance of international academic collaboration in addressing the challenges of decentralisation and territorial cohesion.

Hosted at the Consello Económico e Social de Galicia (CES), the conference reinforced Santiago Lago’s commitment to promoting international research networks and evidence-based debate on fiscal federalism, regional development and public governance.