long post on AEA cutting URPE sessions from 32 to 18 for 1999 ASSA
meetings (AND TO 9 FOR 2000)......
Hello Pen-lers,
I have some dour news that needs some serious thinking and action. Al
Campbell, organizer of the Union for Radical Political Economy sessions
at the January Economics meetings (ASSA), received a letter from the
American Economics Association coordinator of the ASSA indicating that
the AEA has deemed it necessary to cut sessions of URPE down to 18 for
1999 in New York, and to 9 by the year 2000. URPE has historically had
30-32 sessions, which has allowed many radical economists to get their
way paid to the meetings.
Here is part of an email that Al Campbell sent to the URPE Steering
Committee on February 10:
"The AEA appears to run the ASSA- I just got a letter from the
secretary of the AEA, on AEA stationary, annoncing the ASSA is wiping
out our slots to the ASSA as we have kown them (signed in his capacity
as "ASSA coordinator." ) The letter made very clear they have no
intention of considering their decissions (which were made with no
input of the affected groups, but of course made in the name of justice,
fairness, and so on)
"Over 10 years, registration at the ASSA meetings has gone up
3%, while seesions have gone up 27%. That is a crisis as far as they
are concerned. (It seems less than crisis proportions ot me, that the
number of meetings has gone up 27%) This has caused them two problems,
that they sort of throw in to their long letter without being careful on
the logic of why their solution is the only solution to these problems.
One is that the attendence at some sessions is way down, to what they
say is embaraasing to the organizers (one might think the oprganizers
could decide that, but they fortunately will decide that for everyone).
A second problem seems to be that it is getting harder to get sites for
the meetings. They were a little fuzzy on that- they said the larger
size makes it harder, and they said that San Francisco and New York are
not interested in the ASSA convention in the future, but they did not
say that was specidfically because of the size (though they structured
the letter to imply that without actually claiming that was the reason)
"Anyway, to deal with theis crisis they will cut sessions by an
average of 10% this year and 10% next year. URPE will be cut 43.75 %
this year and an additional 50% the following year."
--end of Al's email...
FOR THE MOMENT: The URPE call for papers will proceed, but -in the
meantime, before we come to a resolution about the unilateral action and
a proper course of action - we can not promise that an application for
presentation at a session will be selected. The two organizers of the
sessions do not want to be placed in the role of selecting papers - this
seems to them undemocratic and unfair.
Other groups have also been affected, although the URPE sessions seem to
have been affected to a greater extent than others.
WE NEED YOUR INPUT: The URPE Steering Committee meets in Washington DC
march 7-8, and this will be an important discussion point. (You may
attend if you are interested, I'll give details on location where we
meet later.) Please send Al and me your comments on what concrete
actions can be taken to confront this serious threat to URPEs role in
heterodox economics, or _discuss on this list_.
POSSIBLE SHORT TERM SOLUTION: URPE will accept proposals and _may_
organize poster sessions this year, with 5-6 persons per session.
However, each individual _must_ present a formal paper, which has not
always happened in the past.
POSSIBLE LONG TERM SOLUTION: URPE works with members of ICARE and other
affected groups to demand a participatory process in the organization of
the ASSA, and possibly (my idea, here) requests that all presenters at
ALL AEA/ASSA sessions be allowed to present only once every other year.
Looking forward to hearing your input.
Susan Fleck
PS If you send me private correspondence, please cc to Al, URPE at ASSA
organizer. Al Campbell's email is: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
w:(202) 606-5654 x415
h:(301) 270-1486
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
**********************************
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my postings can not be attributed to my employer.
