' About AIECE

Objectives
The main objective of the Association is to stimulate the exchanges between its members with a view to improve their insight into international economic development. This ranges from the exchange of statistical or institutional information to discussions on economic policy guidelines, and common research activities.

Means
The AIECE organises between its members an exchange of view, of information and of literature on international economic development, in particular in Europe. The Association provides the framework for joint activities of its members in areas of common interest. Its structure allows its members to develop common views on future cyclical development.

In order to meet these objectives the Association has

  • a systematic exchange of the member institutes publications
  • a half-yearly exchange of data including forecasts
  • half-yearly meetings of three working groups, respectively on international commodity prices, on world trade and on longer-term prospects and structural changes.
  • ad hoc working groups on topical subjects
  • half-yearly plenary meetings, centred around a general report on the European conjuncture, prepared in turn by one of the members in cooperation with the other member institutes, but also with discussions of the working group reports and of special surveys prepared by member institutes. Occasionally, outside experts are invited to report on specific subjects or on non-European developments. The Association is one of the few independent fora where the economic outlook of Europe is systematically discussed.

Membership
The AIECE is in principle open to independent European institutes involved in surveying economic conditions and developments, and in short-term macroeconomic forecasting. Independence is taken in its broadest meaning. In some countries there is no institute that is totally independent from the government of from societal organizations, and indeed one of the founding institutes is a public institute. However, the Association does not accept membership of institutes that are directly involved in conducting economic policy or are representing specific economic interests.

History
The AIECE was set up in 1957 on the initiative of the German DIW, the Belgian IRES and the French INSEE institutes. In 2011 the Association groups 40 members or observing institutes, representing 20 countries and international organizations (EC, OECD, IMF and ECB).

Steering Committee
President: Mr R.J. Barrell, The National Institute of Economic and social Research - NIESR, London
Mrs S. Balfoussias, Center of Planning and Economic Research - KEPE, Athens
Mr St. Kooths, Institut für Weltwirtschaft and der Universität Kiel - IFW, Kiel
Mr M. Losoncz, Economic Research Company - GKI Co, Budapest
Mrs C. Mathieu, Observatoire Français des Conjonctures Economiques - OFCE, Paris
Mr P. Suni, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy - ETLA, Helsinki
Mrs S. Tomasini, PROMETEIA, Bologna

Secretariat
Mrs S. Dinjar
Institut de Recherches économiques et sociales - IRES
Place Montesquieu 3
BE - 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Belgium

Tel: 32-10-47 41 43 or 32-10-47 34 26
Fax: 32-10-47.39.45

E-mail: severine.dinjar@uclouvain.be or anne.logist@uclouvain.be

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