American Economic Association (AEA)

Organization of professional economists established in 1885.
Founded primarily by a group of younger professors led by Richard Ely of Johns Hopkins University, the American Economic Association (AEA) challenged the economic orthodoxy of laissez-faire espoused by David Ricardo. However, to attract membership from a wide range of academics (including the organization’s first president, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Francis Walker), the organization soon adopted a policy concentrating on the promotion of scholarly and scientific activities while studiously avoiding partisanship and official positions on policy issues. Although individual members have frequently signed petitions and called for the government to adopt or alter specific economic policies, the American Economic Association has consistently maintained its stance of neutrality for more than a century—much more so than professional organizations in other social sciences. The association remains an open society, with no significant membership restrictions such as nationality, education, or ideology.
The AEA holds annual meetings at which economists can socialize, present their research findings, comment on the ideas of others, and search for jobs and job candidates. The organization focuses on the dissemination of research findings. The AEA’s publications include the prestigious American Economic Review, established in 1911, which includes technical research articles; the Journal of Economic Literature, established in 1963, which includes book reviews and surveys of recent research; and the Journal of Economic Perspectives, established in 1987, which aims to put economic research into the hands of college students and educated readers.
Since its early days, the American Economic Association has repeatedly provided expert advice in the design and development of the census and other government statistics. During both world wars, the AEA played a notable role in organizing professional expertise for government service. Presidents of the American Economic Association have included the profession’s most noted researchers—including Nobel Prize recipients and governmental advisers.

References
Coats, A.W. “The American Economic Association and the Economics Profession.” Journal of Economic Literature, vol. 23 (1985): 1697–1727.
American Economic Association. http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AEA/; accessed January 15, 2003.
See also: Economic Theories.