minutesInternational
Economic Association
|
|
|
Robert SOLOW - Chairman |
|
Vittorio CORBO |
|
Bina AGARWAL |
|
Tony ATKINSON |
|
Victor A. BEKER |
|
Jean-Paul FITOUSSI |
|
Véronique de LABARRE
|
|
Jacob FRENKEL |
|
The President opened the meeting with a cordial welcome to the new Executive Committee members present, and, in particular, to Victor BEKER, Representative of the AAEP. He regretted the absence of Jose DELFINO, President of the AAEP. He then turned to the agenda: 1. CO-OPERATION WITH THE WORLD BANKMeeting with Joseph STIGLITZ and Lyn SQUIRE1.1 Description of the projectThe President introduced Joseph STIGLITZ (Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist of the World Bank) and Lyn SQUIRE (Acting Senior Vice- President). They presented the projects of collaboration with the World Bank. The World Bank wants to promote groups of researchers to study development issues and to strengthen the overall economic capacity in the developing world. Some networks already exist since about ten years. These have been successful in promoting training activities in Africa (AERC) and organising conferences around the world. The World Bank has also been instrumental in creating networks in the Middle-East.(Economic Research Forum). The idea of the GDN is to put together networks from both developing and developed countries. It is a global issue The World Bank disburses around 10 millions $ to support the networks. The funds are allocated to individuals on the basis of peer review. The transparency of the system may persuade other donors to come in and provide money as well. Lyn Squire described the global activities that have already been undertaken:
1.2 BONN ConferenceLyn Squire explained that they were expecting some specific goals out of the Bonn Conference -beyond the opportunity for researchers to share their work):
1.3 Interaction with the IEAHe then mentioned the few areas where there may be possibilities of interaction between the IEA and the network:
1.4 Structure of the GDNMaria AUGUSZTINOVICS suggested to expand the themes of development, beyond the economic view of development, to other social sciences( Sociology, Ecology..). Lyn SQUIRE pointed out that this issue could be decided by the Executive Committee of the GDN. He remarked that the growth project could be developed thanks to the existing experience of the African network. In response to a question raised by Bina AGARWAL, Lyn SQUIRE explained that the role of the Executive Committee of the GDN will be to set up the broad guidelines of the GDN, and to appoint the Secretariat. (There will be no legitimacy of the initial Executive Committee, but this may be reviewed later on). He further explained that each network chooses a director but that the right to vote will be based on some criteria (professional capabilities, for example) Robert SOLOW noted that it is not necessary that all networks have the same functioning. Valeri MAKAROV pointed out that one difficulty of such networks is to bring together in the same project new people, different institutions or communities from the same region (small and large ones). Lyn SQUIRE estimated it is one of the most difficult problem to solve. Differences between networks are an important issue. This may concern, for instance, funds allocation. The GDN may have feedback on the way funds have been allocated to open up this new knowledge. Joseph STIGLITZ remarked that LACEA has done a lot of work on research projects that involve different research institutions. Co-ordinating research institutions (from the regions, and from outside the region) may promote the exchange of ideas on research issues to have some common research methodology . Robert SOLOW noted that the Bank is interested in opening up this network. It is very difficult for small groups to identify the best way of having access to the large numbers of global projects. This is an area where the IEA can help. Joseph Stiglitz mentioned that one of the main proposals of the World Bank is to make a broader map of researchers. About the governance of the GDN, Maria AUGUSZTINOVICS suggested to expand the co-operation to other specialised agencies of the U.N. on development issues. Lyn SQUIRE thought however that there must be a limited number of members (5) of the Executive Committee, so that the 6 regional networks have the balance of power. Bina AGARWAL wondered whether the 6 regional networks would be inclusive of the different intellectual traditions and approaches to development that coexisted in many parts of the world. There was a risk that the networks might largely promote research that is dominated by the concerns and approaches of the World Bank. Joseph STIGLITZ pointed out that the IEA might have a role in enlarging the network. Bina AGARWAL further noted that in the eleven member composition of the GDN Executive Committee proposed by the World Bank (6 network representatives, one World Bank representative and 4 other members) only the 4 "other" members would potentially be independent of the Bank, given that the hitherto close association of the networks with the Bank, including, for instance, through the financial support they receive. Also in the proposed Executive Committee of the GDN, the IEA would be the only professional academic body. This would mean that the Executive Committee may not be autonomous and the IEA may not be in a position to play much of a role in the Executive Committee. Joseph STIGLITZ insisted that the World Bank has no intention to make the GDN part of the World Bank, and that one of the reason to involve the IEA is precisely to broaden the basis people who are implicated. Joe STIGLIZ hoped that other fund providers will arise in the future. This would increase the autonomy of the GDN. He noted that, for example, the World Bank is not allowed to provide more than 15% of the funds in the African network (once the network has been established). Alan WOODLAND remarked that the ability of the network to become more inclusive may depend on the structure (for instance, how and by whom the directors are appointed). Lyn SQUIRE suggested to adopt the procedure that already exists in the Middle-East and African networks, the regional membership choosing the heads of regional networks. Bina AGARWAL suggested that for ensuring inclusiveness and democracy, it was important to lay down some guidelines also for the governance structure of the regional networks, rather than leave the question of regional structures completely open-ended for each network to decide. Lyn SQUIRE answered that the networks should decide on how to construct a democratic structure. Mustapha NABLI underlined that the question is not the functioning of the networks, (the GDN is not running the regional network) but whether the activities initiated and co-ordinated by the GDN are open or not. Joseph STIGLITZ and Lyn SQUIRE left the meeting and the discussion continued among the IEA Executive Committee members only. The President asked the Executive Committee : 1. Whether the IEA should participate in the Bonn Meeting?
2. Whether the IEA should participate in the Executive Committee of the GDN in the way it has been proposed?
3. Whether the IEA should participate in the research project, i.e. review the 24 thematic papers, send the papers to referees or make some recommendations about referees ?
2. PROJECTS UNDER PREPARATIONThe Executive Committee reviewed the following projects:
Tony ATKINSON agreed that developing countries should be more involved in the program. The President suggested to propose someone from outside the United Kingdom. The Secretary General reminded that the normal size of a program committee is of 4 to 5 members. Then, Robert SOLOW suggested that this Conference may serve as an experiment for electronic publishing. 3. FUTURE OF THE I.E.A.3.1 Relationship with member associationsTony Atkinson outlined that this item has not been discussed at the Council meeting . Relationship with member associations is not satisfactory at the moment and should be developed. Adrian PAGAN outlined that the IEA is well-known to students through its publications. He suggested that Newsletters from member associations should include news about the IEA. Some of the material from the IEA could be extracted and printed in these Newsletters. Alan WOODLAND noted that the World Congress offers an unusual opportunity to enlarge the email list. He suggested that the Newsletter be sent by e-mail to individuals as well as to associations. This would facilitate further diffusion. Robert SOLOW proposed to ask member associations to give their e-mail list. Gene GROSSMAN noted that they may not be willing to do so because it may be a way to check membership. The Secretary General suggested to put the Association's Newsletter on the IEA web-site and to advertise it. As regards membership, Maria AUGUSZTINOVICS noted that only 30 out of 56 associations pay their membership fees and that only 4 replies were received in answer to the last questionnaire sent out. Robert SOLOW answered that, probably, many of these organisations have no regular office. This may be also due either to the fact that member associations are being sent too many questionnaires, or that representatives of member associations change. He suggested that when asking for the next settlement of the annual fee, member associations be requested to inform the IEA how to improve best communication. 3.2 Specialised ConferencesThe President reminded that the Atkinson committee report suggested that perhaps they had outlived their usefulness. He underlined that the Executive Committee should be more active in this process suggesting topics for future activities and ways and means to obtain financial support, etc…, rather than expecting proposals from member associations. Tony Atkinson suggested to look for cross-disciplinary conferences. Eric STREISSLER stressed that organising and getting funds for Conferences has become more and more difficult. Although specialist conferences serve a specific role, they receive less and less interest in Western Europe. He suggested that the IEA should have one yearly conference organised in conjunction with the annual meeting of an IEA member association. The papers of the conference may not be published except if they are of international interest or interdisciplinary. The President suggested to appoint a sub-committee of three persons to study these questions and make suggestions. 4. PUBLICATIONSThe Secretary General asked the Executive Committee whether it wants to keep Macmillan as publisher or switch to another one. He also informed the Executive Committee that Macmillan no longer proceeds to the distribution of IEA volumes of proceedings to member associations contrary to the agreement reached in the past. Adrian PAGAN remarked that there will be too many Conference volumes for the Buenos Aires Congress. The Secretary General clarified that there will be three volumes, two for invited papers and one from a selection of Latin America papers. Bina ARGAWAL suggested that IEA consider switching to another publisher which has more international reach and coverage, such as Oxford University Press which has a presence in North America, Europe, as well as in developing countries. Macmillan now appears to be largely publishing textbooks in South Asia. Another alternative would be to think of having a co-publishing deal. For instance, many universities presses in the USA co-publish with other presses in developing countries. She further noted that sales also depended on the themes of the volumes. Volumes on new emerging areas of interest tend to sell better. For instance, the conference volume which has sold the largest number of copies was the one on "Women, work and the world economy" since gender analysis was a significant emergent area of research. Environmental economics was another such new area. She suggested that the World Congress should such new emergent issues. Perhaps some ideas on priority research issues could also be generated by soliciting suggestions from IEA members via email. The President said that the letter received from Oxford University Press was not enthusiastic about publishing IEA Conference volumes. He suggested to wait for suggestions from the sub-committee, and to re-contact Oxford University Press if good conferences emerge. Kotaro SUZUMURA suggested that conferences organised jointly with member associations may also be published in the journal of the association when it exists. 5. OTHER BUSINESSThe Secretary General reminded the Executive Committee that the application received from the LACEA to become an associate member of the IEA should be accepted. He also said that advisers to the Executive Committee should be nominated. These issues will be discussed later. Adrian PAGAN raised the question of the election of Honorary Presidents. The President referred to the procedure adopted in the Council. He also asked that the Executive Committee members email list should be circulated as soon as possible. minutes |
|