Empirical models of matching markets

Research retreat and mini-workshop held at the IASC Cargese, Corsica, France, April 26-May 2, 2026

Organizer: Alfred Galichon (New York University and Sciences Po)

Funded by the European Research Council grant ERC-CoG No. 866274 “EQUIPRICE”.

This event combines a research retreat and a mini-workshop devoted to structural models of matching, with particular emphasis on marriage markets and labor markets. The goal is to bring together researchers from econometrics, microeconomic theory, and computation in order to exchange ideas and develop a broader framework for the analysis and estimation of matching models. The workshop will explore connections across transferable and nontransferable utility models, static and dynamic matching environments, and frictionless and search-based approaches. Particular attention will be paid to the links between marriage market models, labor market assignment and search models, and recent developments in discrete choice, optimal transport, and equilibrium network methods. The event seeks both to clarify the common structure underlying these approaches and to address the econometric and computational challenges involved in their implementation. Topics of interest include identification, equilibrium existence and uniqueness, comparative statics, heterogeneity and complementarities, and the empirical estimation of structural matching models. Applications include marriage and family formation, labor market sorting, and related environments in which allocation and matching are central. By combining collaborative work sessions with focused presentations, the retreat is designed to foster both ongoing collaboration and new research directions.

Investigators and speakers:

• Edoardo Ciscato (KU Leuven)
• Olivier Donni (CY Cergy Paris Université)
• Enzo Di Pasquale (NYU)
• Carlo Fiorio (University of Milan)
• Alfred Galichon (NYU and Sciences Po)
• Marion Gousse (ENSAI-CREST)
• Claudia Senik (Sorbonne Université)
• Maxime Sylvestre (University of Vienna)
• Stefano Verzillo (European Commission JRC)

Talks are accessible to the public (on zoom) but registration is mandatory by emailing esha.modi@sciencespo.fr.

Sunday April 26, 2026

Afternoon
Arrival and welcome reception.

Monday April 27, 2026

Morning
11am – 1230pm: opening session, “structural models of matching: key questions, common frameworks, and open challenges”

Afternoon
130pm – 230pm: breakout work session.
230pm – 330pm: Edoardo Ciscato, “TBA.”
330pm – 4pm: coffee break.
4pm – 6pm: breakout work session.

Tuesday April 28, 2026

Morning
930am – 1030am: breakout work session.
1030am – 11am: coffee break.
11am – 12pm: Enzo Di Pasquale, “TBA.”

Afternoon
130pm – 330pm: breakout work session.
330pm – 4pm: coffee break.
4pm – 5pm: Olivier Donni, “TBA.”
5pm – 6pm: breakout work session.

Wednesday April 29, 2026

Morning
930am – 1030am: breakout work session.
1030am – 11am: coffee break.
11am – 12pm: Claudia Senik, “TBA.”

Afternoon
130pm – 330pm: breakout work session.
330pm – 4pm: coffee break.
4pm – 5pm: Maxime Sylvestre, “TBA.”
5pm – 6pm: breakout work session.

Thursday April 30, 2026

Morning
930am – 1030am: breakout work session.
1030am – 11am: coffee break.
11am – 1200pm: Carlo Fiorio, “TBA.”

Afternoon
230pm – 330pm: breakout work session.
330pm – 4pm: coffee break.
4pm – 5pm: Marion Gousse, “TBA.”
5pm – 6pm: breakout work session.

Friday May 1, 2026

Morning
930am – 1030am: breakout work session.
1030am – 11am: coffee break.
11am – 1200pm: Stefano Verzillo, “TBA.”

Afternoon
230pm – 330pm: breakout work session.
330pm – 4pm: coffee break.
4pm – 5pm: Alfred Galichon, “Empirical models of matching: perspectives and future challenges.”
5pm – 6pm: breakout work session.

Saturday May 2, 2026

Morning
Departure