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What is the American Economics Association (AEA)?

The American Economics Association is a non-profit organization located in Nashville, Tennessee which is made up of university professors in the field of Economics. Since starting in 1885 they now consist of over 20,000 members.

What does the American Economics Association Do?

Annually the AEA features a publication called the American Economic Review which is considered to be one of the most prestigious academic journals in the country. The AEA was originally founded by junior economists who underwent training in a German historical school. Since the year 1900 the association has since been under the control of academics. 

What are the objectives of the American Economics Association?

The main objectives of the American Economics Association are the following: 

1. To stimulate economic research, specifically in the areas of statistical and historical studies of conditions in the industrial sector. 
2. To review the issues that surround economic publications. 
3. To stimulate the freedom of economic discussion. 

Does the American Economics Association have any Political Stances?

The Association does not believe in taking a partisan attitude nor will it refer any members to take positions of such practical economic questions and status. While the association was once formed consistently of university and college professors, it now has a growing membership of both professional and commercial groups, with more than half still comprised of academics. Around 15% is used within industry and business while the rest are used majorly state, federal and municipal nonprofit organizations. 

Origins of the American Economics Association

The AEA first begin publication in the year 1886 with its self named Publications of the American Economic Association. Within this first publication there was reference to the foundation and the platform of the AEA. The first article also contained information that the doctrine of Capitalism of the non-intervention policy which they stated is insecure in unsound morals and politics. 

Types of Publications in the American Economics Association

For a number of years, the AEA only published three economic journals titled:

• The Journal of Economic Perspectives (this publication is available for free online)
• The American Economic Review and
• The Journal of Economic Literature

In the year 2009, the association began to publish four new journals which were specific to the area, these were called collectively the American Economic Journal or AEJ. The four different areas which were covered in these journals are:

• Economic policy
• Macroeconomics
• Microeconomics and
• Applied economics

What is EconLit?

The AEA also is responsible for the production of EconLit, an electronic bibliography of the SAA. It features a completed index of all journal articles which are passed by book reviews, peer reviews, books, work papers, dissertations and collective volume articles. They are all abstracted and edited into a more easily searchable format. The EconLit offers an index of over 125 years of economic literature from all over the world. To look through this index just follow all the codes of the JEL classification. 

What is the Resources for Internet Economists?

The AEA is also a sponsor of the RFE, or Resources for Internet Economists. The RFE is an online resource which is available to the public without a subscription. There are over 2,000 internet pages cataloged and annotated according to 97 different sections and sub divisions. This resource is then updated once a month. 

Timeframe of the American Economics Association

Together with more than 50 different associations, the AEA holds a meeting a yearly meeting which consists of three days every winter to present various works on economic subjects. Around 500 different student sessions are also held each year. Immediately after this yearly meeting a continuing education program is held. The topics of this meeting and program change from year to year. 

Other future meetings are then held and scheduled in the first week of January. The call for registration is listed on the homepage of the Association. The submission deadline is April 1st of the previous year. 

Are there any Recognitions by the American Economics Association?

Each year the AEA will recognize the lifetime contribution of four different economists and choosing them for the honor of a "Distinguished Fellow". The AEA also awards the John Bates Clark Medal to a minor scholar of 40 who is then referred to as the "Nobel Baby". These are not the only awards offered by the AEA, they also recognize an award known as "the Best Paper Award" annually.

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• American Economic Association