The Royal Economic Society has appointed the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ (IFS) Research Director Prof Rachel Griffith as its new President for 2019/20. Prof Griffith is Professor of Economics at the University of Manchester, Research Director of the IFS and Co-Director of the Centre for the Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy (CPP).
She is the Society’s first female President in over 35 years and becomes only the second woman to hold the post in the Society’s 129-year history. The Society also named Prof Carol Propper (Imperial College London) as President-Elect for 2019/20. They will join the ranks of other prestigious economists who have led the Society since it was formed in 1890.
Welcoming her appointment, Prof Rachel Griffith said:
“I am looking forward to my year as President of the Royal Economic Society. The Society plays an important role in promoting the study of economics in the UK and around the world.
“I believe that we have a great opportunity over the next year to shape how economics is perceived and to encourage greater diversity in the economics profession.”
President-Elect Prof Carol Propper is Professor of Economics at Imperial College Business School and Associate Dean for Faculty and Research.
Prof Carol Propper said:
“I am honoured to be named President-Elect of this prestigious Society and look forward to working with the Society over the next year to support the work of economists.
“The Royal Economic Society is well placed to build upon its engagement with the public, media and schools, to create a better understanding of the role economics plays in the world.”
The Royal Economic Society has a tripartite Presidential system with three Presidents serving at any one time for a three-year term, as President-Elect, President and Immediate Past President.
Professor Lord Nicholas Stern has now become the Society’s Immediate Past President. He is IG Patel Professor of Economics and Government, Chairman of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics.
Lord Nicholas Stern said:
“The Society has gone through a number of important changes over the last year with the launch of its new strategy, website and publishing contract for our journals.
“It has a clear plan for the future and under the leadership of Rachel Griffith and Carol Propper, the Society will continue to increase its impact and the understanding of economics.”
The Royal Economic Society elected its Presidents at its 2019 Annual General Meeting held during its Annual Conference. This year the conference was held at the University of Warwick (15-17 April 2019), bringing together more than 700 economists to discuss and present around 500 academic papers. Keynote speakers included Anne Case (Princeton), James J. Heckman (Chicago), Eliana La Ferrara (Bocconi) and Peter Neary (Oxford).
The Royal Economic Society was founded in 1890 and received its Royal Charter in 1902. Its purpose is to promote the study of economic science. It has around 4000 members and publishes The Economic Journal and The Econometrics Journal.
