The American Economic Association is setting up a committee to consider a Code of Professional Conduct for economists.
This represents a total about-face for the AEA, which previously insisted that there was no need for ethics training or support for its members.
The reason for the change was the public reaction or revelation about an economic jobs bulletin board that was “toxic” for women. Here’s a link to a fairly shocking NYT article: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/18/upshot/evidence-of-a-toxic-environment-for-women-in-economics.html?_r=0
Not sure where this will end up, but there might be a vote as early as January in the AEA’s executive meeting. Here’s the complete announcement:
To: Members of the American Economic Association
From: Peter L. Rousseau, Secretary-Treasurer
Subject: Statement of the AEA Executive Committee
Many members of the economics community have expressed concern about offensive behavior within our profession that demeans individuals or groups of individuals. The American Economic Association strongly condemns misogyny, racism, homophobia, antisemitism and other behaviors that harm our profession.
AEA President Alvin E. Roth has charged an ad hoc committee on professional conduct to formulate a set of guidelines for economists to be considered by the Executive Committee. The ad hoc committee is charged with evaluating various aspects of professional conduct, including those which stifle diversity in Economics. It will submit a report in time for discussion in January. There will be a period for comment by the AEA membership on that report following its release.
The Association is also exploring the possibility of creating a website/message board designed to provide additional information and transparency to the job market for new Ph.D.s, and will be surveying departments to assess what information about their search processes might be shared.
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