The National Bureau of Economic Research Summer Institute brings together economists from universities, government and international organizations for a few days or a weeks of seminars, workshops, conferences, and collaborative research. Last year's Summer Institute included 709 economists from 179 universities. A similar number is expected to attend this summer. Special efforts are made to include younger and less well known economists. The Summer Institute is organized into 12 programs: economic fluctuations, monetary economics, corporate finance, asset pricing, industrial organization, health and aging, international studies, labor studies, productivity, and taxation. Each program has its own group of participants and its own structure. Although there is considerable variation among the programs, a typical Summer Institute will last for one to three weeks, with seminars each morning and afternoons devoted to individual research. Programs may include a variety of subjects or they may be organized around specific topics. The Institute provides a unique opportunity for economists to work closely with others in their areas of specialty for extended and intense periods research. Although numerous conferences permit researchers a few hours in which to exchange ideas, only this institute lasts long enough to allow for serious collaboration among economists from different institutions. While research nearing completion is presented, the major emphasis is placed on testing new ideas by presenting preliminary research and developing ideas and plans for joint or coordinated research efforts.
