FEDEA

FEDEA
Name	FEDEA
Native name	Fundación de Estudios de Economía Aplicada
Formation	1986
Type	Think tank
Headquarters	Madrid, Spain
Fields	Applied economics, public policy, fiscal studies

FEDEA is a Spanish think tank established to produce applied economic research and policy analysis. It conducts studies on fiscal policy, labor markets, public finance, and macroeconomic forecasting to inform debates in Spain and the European Union. The foundation engages with academic institutions, international organizations, and media to disseminate findings to policymakers and the public.

History

FEDEA was founded in 1986 during a period of institutional reform characterized by interactions between Spanish political leaders such as Felipe González and European integration milestones like the Single European Act and the Maastricht Treaty. Early work connected to debates following the Spanish transition to democracy intersected with fiscal consolidation episodes and monetary debates including the creation of the European Monetary System. In the 1990s FEDEA contributed analyses relevant to episodes such as the European Exchange Rate Mechanism crises and discussions preceding the Eurozone project. Across the 2000s and 2010s its research responded to shocks including the 2008 financial crisis, the European sovereign debt crisis, and policy responses inspired by reports from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. FEDEA’s timeline of conferences, working papers, and collaborations tracks parallel activity at universities like the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, and international centers such as the London School of Economics.

Organization and Governance

FEDEA operates as a non-profit foundation with governance structures involving a board of trustees and scientific council drawing members from academia, finance, and public institutions. Its statutes reflect norms common to foundations established under the Spanish Foundation Law framework and interact with Madrid regional authorities and national registries such as the Registro de Fundaciones. Leadership roles frequently include professionals with profiles linked to institutions like the Banco de España, the Ministerio de Economía y Hacienda, and universities including Universidad de Barcelona. Advisory and editorial boards have included scholars with affiliations to international centers such as Harvard University, University of Chicago, and research networks connected to the Centre for Economic Policy Research. FEDEA hosts seminars and lectures in venues including think tanks like Real Instituto Elcano and publishes through channels used by outlets such as El País and ABC (newspaper).

Research Areas and Publications

FEDEA’s research portfolio spans fiscal policy, labor market reforms, public spending, competitiveness, and macroeconomic modeling. Publications include a working paper series, policy briefs, and edited volumes disseminated to audiences familiar with scholarship from Piketty, Lucas, and methodological traditions represented by Bayesian econometrics centers. FEDEA has produced analyses on pension systems, taxation, and structural unemployment that reference methodologies employed at institutions like the European Central Bank, Bank for International Settlements, and the World Bank. Its publication output has appeared alongside discourse from scholars at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Johns Hopkins University, and policy outputs cited in reports by the European Commission. FEDEA organizes annual conferences and workshops featuring speakers from institutions such as the International Labour Organization, OECD, IMF, and regional universities like Universidad de Valencia.

Funding and Partnerships

FEDEA’s funding model combines contributions from private foundations, corporate sponsors, and grants linked to European programs and national ministries. Partners and sponsors have included foundations operating in Spain and Europe, multinational firms with headquarters in Madrid and global offices tied to Santander (bank), Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, and professional services firms that engage with centers like McKinsey & Company and Deloitte. Collaborative research projects have been undertaken with academic partners such as Universidad de Navarra, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, and international organizations including the European Commission research directorates and the IMF technical assistance programs. Competitive research grants and contracts have connected FEDEA to networks run by the European Research Council and thematic programs under the Horizon 2020 framework.

Impact and Influence

FEDEA’s analyses have informed parliamentary debates in the Cortes Generales and featured in policy discussions within ministries including the Ministerio de Trabajo y Economía Social and the Ministerio de Hacienda. Its work has been cited in media coverage by outlets such as El Mundo and in testimony before parliamentary committees and advisory bodies connected to labour reform and pension policy. Internationally, FEDEA-affiliated research has been used in comparative studies produced by the European Commission and in consultative exchanges with the Bank of Spain and the European Central Bank. The foundation’s influence is visible in citations within academic journals that also publish work by scholars from Universidad de Oxford, Yale University, and Columbia University, and in contributions to policy debates on fiscal consolidation, structural reform, and demographic change.

Notable Staff and Leadership

FEDEA’s staff and leadership have included economists and directors with prior roles in academia, central banking, and government. Prominent affiliated figures have held positions at institutions such as the Banco de España, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, European Commission, and international universities like London School of Economics and Harvard University. Senior researchers and board members have engaged with networks connected to the Centre for Economic Policy Research, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and policy forums that convene officials from the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Category:Think tanks in Spain