National Economic Association
Promoting Economic Growth
 
 
 

National Economic Association Business Meeting
Saturday, January 4, 2003
Secretary’s Report

Minutes from 2002 were accepted without revisions.

Discussion:

  • Reviewed 3-year membership

  • Notice that membership has been paid.

  • Label on the journal signifies paid membership

  • Discussed the benefits of membership.  Margaret Simms mentioned that the only incentive to join is receipt of the Review.

  • Rodgers discussed initiatives to communicate with membership and potential membership – Communications Committee, etc.

  • Informal proposal for restricted listserv

  • Sam Myers noted that method of delivering bill, via E-mail and listserv, might contribute to reductions in membership payments.

 

Treasurer’s Report

Monthly income report

  • Jessica Gordon Nembhard noted the job bulletin ($1,540) and individual membership fees ($2,465).  CD account balance YTD was $31,791.78.

  • Other revenue in December 2002 was $2,070 for the Westerfield Award.

  • Half of CD account is owned by the Review.

  • Expenses: Purchase of perpetual plaque (one-time expense) and purchase of annual plaque for award recipients. 

  • Current balance of $10,751.

  • Westerfield Award Luncheon  (approx. $3,400)

Discussion:

  • Bill Rodgers discussed allocating the Reviews share of revenue to a separate account.

Treasurer’s reported was accepted without revisions

 

The Review Report

As of December 17, 2002, operating surplus is $63,339.  Note the Review is 4 issues behind.  Production cost is $11,500.  In real terms the surplus is approximately $17k. 

Boston decided not to switch publishers.  Main issues were financial--deferred liability.

Transactions is producing deferred liability for the Review.  Deferred liability is $107,512.  The Reviews’ storage is substantial - $2,871 annual costs.  Boston discussed methods for reducing storage costs.  On-line costs for the review is $3,000 to the Review. 

In 2002, 531 page circulation

In 2001, 470 page circulation

In 2002, 612 page circulation

Institutional subscription has increased from 330 to 370.  Due to on-line subscriptions.

Paid membership subscriptions for 2002 are 105.

North Carolina at Chapel Hill is assisting the Review.  Rhonda Sharpe was appointed Associate Editor.

    • Marketing the Review
    • Soliciting submissions
    • Book review editor
    • Soliciting special issues (Rhonda Sharpe is currently pulling together a special issue on housing and urban policy)

Transactions currently offers free on-line subscription to printed subscribers.

Boston recommended that Review not switch to alternative journal

34 manuscripts submitted (29 the previous year); unsolicited submissions are trending down.  Boston wants to brainstorm on ways of getting unsolicited submissions up. 

2 special issues (volume 29, no. 4 devoted to Rhonda Williams; volume special issue is being edited by Dick America on reparations)

4 issues published over the past year.

Publishing schedule by next year expect to be no more than 2 issues behind

Discussion:

  • Darrick Hamilton expressed concern for getting more senior scholars to submit articles to the review.

  • Barbara Jones proposed that the Review mail past issues to members or others at reduced cost.  Proposal – donation based on future subscription.

  • Susan McElroy discussed reconciliation of NEA mailing list and Transactions’ mailing list.

 

AEA Committee on Minorities in Economics

Discussed fundraising initiative for the summer pipeline program.  Charles Becker reviewed the Summer Minority Program.  Program is in its 30th year.  Described structure of summer program: Fundamental level and Advanced level.  Students that enter in the Fundamental level often come back for the Advanced level the following year.  Approximately 50 percent of students that complete the summer program enter Ph.D. programs in economics.  Asked audience to help recruit candidates.  Noted, gap in the number of black/minority Ph.D. economists, approximately 80 per year.  Typical minimum math for Advanced program is 2nd calculus, econometrics, and linear algebra.

Costs of program—faculty (e.g., Charles Becker is full-time), travel, room and board, on-going mentoring. 

 

Nominations Committee Report

  • Sheila Ards, President-elect

  • Mark Turner, Secretary

  • Jessica Gordon Nembhard, Treasurer

 Board of Directors:

    • Dania Frank (Harvard University)
    • Gregory Price (North Carolina A & T University)
    • Juliet Elu (Spelman College)
    • Lauren Rich (University of Chicago)
    • Peter Blair Henry (Stanford University)
    • Rucker Johnson (University of Michigan)
    • Susan McElroy (University of Texas at Dallas)

 

 New Business

Joint NEA/AEA sessions has always been published in the May Proceedings of AER.  Myers wants Rodgers to make a formal compliant about not listing the NEA as a recognized organization.  NEA was not listed for late registers.  Moreover, NEA is not listed at all for any registers. 

Rodgers with the Board’s approval has appointed Sheila Ards (presumed President-Elect) to the Program Chair (organizer for next year’s) sessions.

Reviewed success of the Westerfield Award honoring Bernard Anderson

Rodgers will entertain nominees for the Arthur Lewis Award.

Dick American discussed financial health of HBCUs.

Jessica Gordon Nembhard discussed the need for an organizational historian.  Proposal –president writes a summary of previous year.

Sam Myers thanked the Westerfield Award Committee. 

Margaret Simms noted that By-Laws have not been amended for separating the Secretary-Treasurer position.  Proposed that president appoint a committee for compose a committee to revised the By-Laws. 

Dick America proposed reviving HBCU committee.

 

Business Meeting was adjoined at 6:53pm.

 

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