Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics

The center, in conjunction with the Centre for a Digital Society (formerly Florence School of Regulation – Communications and Media), holds an international conference on postal economics and postal policy. This is the latest in a series of international conferences and workshops which began in 1990, sponsored by leading national post offices, express carriers, labor, and consultants. Papers presented at the conferences are published in the series of postal economics books.

The latest of the series is The Future of the Postal Sector in a Digital World, edited by Pier Luigi Parcu, Timothy J. Brennan and Victor Glass, Springer, 2019. Conference participants receive a copy of the published book resulting from the the conference they attend. This is the 23rd book published from this program.

The topics covered have grown considerably in scope from the early days when the program was built around regulatory and monopoly issues. Now strategy, competition, innovation, marketing, competition, universal service, cost analysis, demand analysis and new services have all become matters of considerable interest. These are issues facing the new generation of postal companies. Discussion of these issues is important not just for the innovators but also for other major posts in transition and leading couriers and parcel companies.

The center's first conferences on postal economics and policy were held in 1990 in Rugby, England and in 1992 in La Londe les Maures, France. The center was honored for its work in the area of postal and delivery economics by the European Express Organization with their Hermes Award for 1992. To this date there have been 23 conferences and 8 workshops held.