Eastern Economic Association

Eastern Economic Association
Name	Eastern Economic Association
Formation	1974
Founding location	United States
Type	Learned society
Focus	Economics
Language	English
Leader title	President
Main organ	Board of directors

Eastern Economic Association. The Eastern Economic Association is a prominent learned society dedicated to the advancement of economic scholarship and discourse, primarily within the United States but with an international membership. Founded in the mid-1970s, it serves as a vital forum for economists, facilitating the exchange of research through its flagship journal and a major annual conference. The association is governed by an elected Board of directors and maintains affiliations with other leading economic organizations to broaden its academic reach and influence.

History

The association was established in 1974, emerging during a period of significant evolution in economic thought following the Bretton Woods system and amidst debates between Keynesian economics and emerging monetarist perspectives. Its founding was part of a broader movement to create regional platforms complementing the national scope of the American Economic Association. Early leadership included economists from prestigious institutions like Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Pennsylvania, who sought to foster rigorous dialogue. Over the decades, it has grown from a regional gathering into an internationally recognized institution, regularly featuring Nobel laureates such as Paul Samuelson, Milton Friedman, and Joseph Stiglitz at its events, thereby chronicling major shifts in the discipline from Rational expectations to Behavioral economics.

Organization and governance

The association operates under the guidance of an elected Board of directors, which includes officers such as the President, Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer, who are typically leading scholars from major universities like Columbia University or the University of Chicago. Governance follows a constitution and bylaws, with standing committees overseeing critical functions including the annual conference program, membership, and nominations. Day-to-day operations are often managed by an executive director, while the editorial leadership for its journal is appointed by the board. This structure ensures alignment with its mission to serve the professional interests of its diverse membership, which spans academic, governmental, and private sector economists.

Publications

The association's flagship publication is the Eastern Economic Journal, a peer-reviewed quarterly that publishes theoretical and empirical research across all fields of economics. The journal is indexed in major services like JSTOR and EBSCO and has featured contributions from renowned economists affiliated with institutions such as the London School of Economics and the National Bureau of Economic Research. Under the stewardship of editors from universities like New York University and Boston College, the journal has developed special issues on topics ranging from Game theory to Economic inequality, solidifying its reputation as a respected venue for scholarly exchange and innovation in economic science.

Annual conference

The premier event is its annual conference, traditionally held each spring in major northeastern cities such as New York City, Boston, or Washington, D.C.. The conference attracts thousands of participants from across the globe and features hundreds of sessions covering diverse topics from International trade and Monetary policy to Labor economics and Econometrics. Keynote addresses have been delivered by influential figures including former chairs of the Federal Reserve and presidents of the American Economic Association. The event also includes a large job market for new PhDs from programs like those at Princeton University and the University of Michigan, workshops, and social gatherings, making it a central hub for professional networking and the dissemination of cutting-edge research.

Affiliations and partnerships

To extend its influence and resources, the association maintains formal affiliations with several other major economic organizations. It is a founding member of the Allied Social Science Associations, the umbrella group that organizes the largest annual gathering of economists in North America. Partnerships also exist with regional counterparts like the Midwest Economic Association and the Southern Economic Association, facilitating cross-regional collaboration. Furthermore, it often cooperates with specialized bodies such as the Econometric Society and the International Economic Association on conference sessions and initiatives, thereby connecting its members to a wider, global network of economic scholarship and policy discussion.

Impact and recognition

The association has had a substantial impact on the economics profession by providing a critical platform for early-career researchers to present work and for established scholars to debate pivotal ideas. Its journal and conference have been instrumental in disseminating research that later gained prominence in broader policy circles, including discussions at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. While it does not bestow its own major awards, its events and publications have showcased the work of countless recipients of honors like the John Bates Clark Medal and the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. This role in nurturing economic discourse has cemented its recognition as a key institution within the ecosystem of learned societies dedicated to the social sciences.

Category:Learned societies Category:Economics organizations