100 Years

Follow the 100-year journey from a small group of universities in the west to an international organization

Founded in 1922, the WEAI is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated "to encourage and communicate economic research and analysis". The mission that inspired the creation of a fledgling academic society 100 years ago still guides and informs the organization to this day as its activities and publications reach around the globe.

  • Two women holding a sign labeled 'Votes For Women'
  • Alfred C. Schmitt After two previous attempts by others, Alfred C. Schmitt finally convened the first conference of the Pacific Association of Collegiate Schools of Business and Departments of Economics. He served as conference chairman and President, then as permanent Secretary from 1923 to 1933. Alfred C. Schmitt
  • Meeting program The first meeting of the Pacific Association of Collegiate Schools of Business and Departments of Economics was held December 28-29 with 21 delegates at the Benson Hotel in Portland, Oregon. With the intention of bringing together colleges and universities from west of the Rockies for the discussion of mutual problems among schools of business and the departments of economics, sponsoring institutions that sent delegates included University of Washington, University of Oregon, the State College of Washington, and the Oregon State College. Meeting program
  • Conference name changed to Pacific Collegiate Economic and Commercial Conference with 51 delegates in attendance.
  • Membership dues established for academic institutions at $5 per year. Original Institutional Members still active today include Stanford University, Claremont Graduate University, University of Washington, University of Oregon, UCLA, and USC. $5 USD bill
  • Conference registration of $1 per person instituted for attendees. $1 USD bill
  • Board approves changing name to Pacific Coast Economic Association, sponsored by the Pacific collegiate schools of business and departments of economics.
  • People holding signs protesting prohibition.
  • The first conference that included presentation of individual research papers, there were 56 delegates in attendance.
  • Radio address given by founding secretary Alfred C. Schmitt detailing the circumstances of the first meeting of the Association. Printed transcript of the radio address
  • Bylaws were drafted as one of steps necessary to obtain legal status for the association. Dues were established at $1 for individuals, $35 life membership, $5 and $10 for Institutional Members.
  • First Allied Society joins the conference (Pacific Sociological Society).
  • First Articles of Incorporation issued by the State of California on January 3, 1934, to the Pacific Coast Economic Association, established for the encouragement of economic research and discussion. One hundred years later, the purpose and mission of the Association remain the same.
  • An association endowment started with two $5 and two $100 donations, one of which was from Alfred C. Schmitt.
  • A sailor and nurse kissing on a city street.
  • From the 1940 business meeting minutes:

    "The desirability of the Association's undertaking publication of a quarterly journal was considered. Costs of the publication were analyzed, the necessity of a sponsoring institution was defined, and the matter was tabled."

    (This continued on and off for the next 20 years, including a proposal to partner in a journal with the Western Farm Economics Association, until membership approved the creation of a WEAI journal in 1961.)
  • Conferences suspended for the duration of WWII.
  • Conferences resume at the Montecito School for Girls in Santa Barbara. Montecito School for Girls
  • Elvis Presley
  • Membership approves changing the name of the Association to the Western Economic Association by a vote of 194 to 53.
  • Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Last edition of the Proceedings is published. Proceedings began publication in 1924 when The Ronald Press Company offered to print and distribute conference proceedings free of charge. Notice of change
  • The first issue of the WEJ is published with founding editors Lawrence Nabers and Jewell J. Rasmussen, University of Utah.
    Jewell J. Rasmussen Western Economic Journal cover
    Jewell J. Rasmussen
    Western Economic Journal cover
  • WEJ moves to UCLA with Editors Harold Somers and Alice John Vandermeulen. Journal frequency approved for quarterly issues Sport fans spelling out UCLA with one issue for publication of abstracts from the conference. Alice Vandermeulen was one of the first women to serve as Editor of a major journal in economics. Sport fans spelling out UCLA
  • Eldon J. Dvorak begins over 30 years of service to WEA as 1969 program chair, Association Business Manager, Secretary-Treasurer, then ultimately Executive Vice President, transitioning to professional management of the Association rather than all volunteers. His tenure saw a 14-fold growth in Association conference participation.
    Eldon J. Dvorak
    Eldon J. Dvorak
  • Alice Vandermeulen, UCLA, appointed to serve as the first sole Editor at WEJ.
  • A sign reading 'Closed do to gasoline shortage.'
  • Journal cover redesign with EI's now-signature blue introduced.
    Western Economic Journal cover
    Western Economic Journal cover
  • Articles of Incorporation amended to reflect Association name change to Western Economic Association.
  • 501(c)3 status obtained from the Internal Revenue Service.
  • Robert Clower, UCLA, appointed WEJ Editor. Professor Clower was the son of Fay W. Clower, WEAI Vice President in 1947.
    Robert Clower
    Robert Clower
  • Advertised 'logogram' competition announced in EI with $100 cash prize.
  • First conference not held on a school campus. The conference was at the Sahara Las Vegas.
    Hotel Sahara, Las Vegas
    Hotel Sahara, Las Vegas
  • Western Economic Journal renamed Economic Inquiry. Other name options considered by the Board included:
    • Papers in Economics
    • Annals of Economics
    • Studies in Economics
    • Journal of Economic Papers
    • Journal of Economic Research
    • Economic Research Quarterly
    Economic Inquiry cover
    Economic Inquiry cover
  • WEA logo
  • WEA logo
  • An IBM personal computer
  • WEA logo
  • Tom Borcherding, Simon Fraser University, John Chant, Simon Fraser University, and Art DeVany, University of Houston, appointed EI Editors.
    Tom Borcherding
    John Chant
    Art DeVany
  • Board votes to officially change name to Western Economic Association International. The Board minutes indicated that "While there was some discussion that the Association is drifting away from its regional nature and that this may not be desirable, it was agreed that there are some benefits to be derived by adding the word 'International' and virtually no costs."
  • WEA Board approves introduction of a second journal. First issue of Contemporary Policy Issues published.

    Eldon Dvorak, California State University, Long Beach, Founding Editor at CPI.
    Contemporary Policy Issues cover Eldon Dvorak
    Contemporary Policy Issues cover
    Eldon Dvorak
  • Tom Borcherding, now at Claremont Colleges, and John F. Chant, Simon Fraser University, continue to serve as EI Editors.
  • New cover issued with current EI logo. Tom Borcherding, Claremont Colleges, appointed for second term as the sole Editor at EI.
    Economic Inquiry cover
    Economic Inquiry cover
  • A web browser address bar
  • Frank Wykoff, Pomona College, appointed EI Editor.
    Frank Wykoff
    Frank Wykoff
  • Darwin C. Hall, California State University, Long Beach, appointed Editor of CEP.
    Darwin C. Hall
    Darwin C. Hall
  • EI cover is given a new look.
    Economic Inquiry cover
    Economic Inquiry cover
  • First biennial Pacific Rim Conference is held in Hong Kong.
    Hong Kong conference program
    Hong Kong conference program
  • CPI renamed as Contemporary Economic Policy and new cover design is unveiled.
    Contemporary Economic Policy cover
    Contemporary Economic Policy cover
  • WEA logo
  • Bill Neilson, Texas A&M University, appointed EI Editor.
    Bill Neilson
    Bill Neilson
  • Anil Puri, California State University, Fullerton, appointed Executive Vice President.
    Anil Puri
    Anil Puri
  • Steve Jobs holding an iPhone
  • Dennis Jansen, Texas A&M University, appointed EI Editor.
    Dennis Jansen
    Dennis Jansen
  • Wade E. Martin, California State University, Long Beach, appointed Editor of CEP.
    Wade E. Martin
    Wade E. Martin
  • WEAI logo
  • Preston McAfee, Cal Tech and Yahoo! Research, appointed EI Editor, introducing his innovative 'No Revisions' policy.
    Preston McAfee
    Preston McAfee
  • Graduate Student Workshop (GSW) was introduced as part of the conference. The program was created at the urging of George Kaufman during his first term on the WEAI Executive Board as Academic Director.
    George Kaufman
    George Kaufman
  • WEA legally changed to Western Economic Association International. Darwin Hall, CSULB, appointed Executive Director.
    Darwin Hall
    Darwin Hall
  • Bitcoin and US currency
  • EI's 50th Anniversary.
    Economic Inquiry cover
    Economic Inquiry cover
  • Brad Humphreys, University of Alberta (now at West Virginia University), appointed Editor of CEP.
    Brad Humphreys
    Brad Humphreys
  • Wesley Wilson, University of Oregon, appointed EI Editor. A newly updated cover is introduced.
    Econmic Inquiry cover Wesley Wilson
    Econmic Inquiry cover
    Wesley Wilson
  • After the number of applicants tripled, GSW doubles in size from eight students to sixteen doctoral candidate. GSW doctoral candidates
  • Biennial Pacific Rim conference becomes the Annual International Conference.
  • Wade Martin, CSULB, appointed Executive Director.
    Wade Martin
    Wade Martin
  • Annual and International conferences both set records for participation in WEAI history.
  • WEAI logo
  • A screenshot of a Zoom conference call
  • Pandemic results in the cancellation of the International Conference scheduled for Shanghai in March and the need to transition the Annual Conference to a virtual format in June.
  • Cover design updated for 40th anniversary issue and WEAI's 100th anniversary celebration.
    Contemporary Economic Policy cover
    Contemporary Economic Policy cover
  • Tim Salmon, Southern Methodist University, appointed EI Editor. EI cover updated maintaining the global theme. Celebration of EI's 60th anniversary and WEAI's 100th anniversary.
    Economic Inquiry cover Tim Salmon
    Economic Inquiry cover
    Tim Salmon
  • The Annual Conference resumes as a hybrid in-person and virtual format to celebrate our 100th anniversary where it all began — Portland, Oregon.