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.
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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.
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Conference name changed to Pacific Collegiate Economic and Commercial Conference with 51 delegates in attendance.
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Board approves changing name to Pacific Coast Economic Association, sponsored by the Pacific collegiate schools of business and departments of economics.
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The first conference that included presentation of individual research papers, there were 56 delegates in attendance.
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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.
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First Allied Society joins the conference (Pacific Sociological Society).
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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.
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An association endowment started with two $5 and two $100 donations, one of which was from Alfred C. Schmitt.
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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.
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Membership approves changing the name of the Association to the Western Economic Association by a vote of 194 to 53.
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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.
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Alice Vandermeulen, UCLA, appointed to serve as the first sole Editor at WEJ.
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Articles of Incorporation amended to reflect Association name change to Western Economic Association.
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501(c)3 status obtained from the Internal Revenue Service.
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Advertised 'logogram' competition announced in EI with $100 cash prize.
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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."
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Tom Borcherding, now at Claremont Colleges, and John F. Chant, Simon Fraser University, continue to serve as EI Editors.
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Biennial Pacific Rim conference becomes the Annual International Conference.
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Annual and International conferences both set records for participation in WEAI history.
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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.
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The Annual Conference resumes as a hybrid in-person and virtual format to celebrate our 100th anniversary where it all began — Portland, Oregon.