Virtual International Conference

Present a Volunteer Paper | Now closed...sorry!

You are invited to submit an abstract for possible presentation on the program in a volunteer session. Abstracts will be blind reviewed by a screening committee member and decision emails will be sent in early November. All paper presenters will be expected to provide comments on the other papers in their session to ensure that everyone receives constructive feedback on their research. 

Step 1: Register to attend and pay paper submission fee

Step 2: Submit an abstract. Link to submit is located on your user profile. Only registrants who've paid a conference paper submission fee may access the submission portal.

Information needed for abstract review committee:

• Paper presenter's name, professional affiliation, e-mail address, academic degrees held; same information for all coauthors.

• Paper title and paper topic area (three appropriate codes from the JEL Classification System).

• Abstract of 350 words or less including a statement of the research or policy question and the contribution made by the paper; as well as method(s), model(s) and, if applicable, relevant data including time frame and geographical scope.

Payment of paper submission ($50 for WEAI members, $75 for non-members) and registration fees are required prior to submission of your abstract (see Registration tab for applicable fee). Hint: Join now and save -- plus you'll be entitled to a journal submission fee waiver for your conference paper if submitted to EI or CEP within six months after the conference. It's a win-win!

Only research at the graduate level and above will be considered for volunteer sessions. Alternatively, undergraduates are welcome to coordinate with an advisor to organize a session featuring undergrad research papers.

Your complete paper will not be submitted to WEAI, but will be circulated to your fellow session participants one month prior to the conference. Paper and slides can be shared via upload to the conference platform prior to the conference.

Questions? Contact [email protected].
 

Serve as a Chair or Technical Host

Based on feedback received from the first virtual conference, we need your help to provide added support for the volunteer sessions by serving as a Session Chair or Technical Host. Presenting virtually is a new experience for many of us, adding a new level of complexity to a conference presentation. Volunteer sessions will benefit from having non-presenters serve as Session Chairs and Technical Hosts:

• Session Chairs will coordinate communications before and during the conference serving as a liaison with WEAI for session scheduling and discussant assignments.
• Technical Hosts will aid with configuring and hosting the session on Zoom or MS Teams, will assist presenters with screen sharing and a practice run, if needed, and will provide time prompts during the session.

Volunteer to serve as a Session Chair or Technical Host at the time of your volunteer abstract submission. If you are interested in serving, but are not presenting a volunteer paper, please email [email protected] with your fields of expertise and time zone from which you will be joining the conference.

Organize a Session | Deadline November 15, 2020

Sessions in all areas of economics are welcome.

Organize your own session and take charge of all the details! Paper submission fees are waived for all papers in organized sessions, however participants are required to register for the conference. WEAI members affiliated with a WEAI Institutional Member, and who organize a session, receive complimentary conference registration. 

Organized sessions must include papers from various institutions. No more than 50% of the papers may be from the same institution. Each participant may author (or co-author) no more than two papers in the session. Proposals for workshops or roundtables should also include individuals from multiple institutions. Sessions are subject to review by a screening committee. 

Please notify us of your intent to organize a session as soon as possible! Email [email protected].

Overall Responsibility

As the organizer, you have the following responsibilities:

• Maintain liaison between your participants and WEAI.
• Ensure that your session participants are well prepared and registered by March 1.
• Make sure your session participants circulate completed papers by March 1.
• Keep the WEAI informed of changes to your session.

Typical Session Format

The session time allocation is one hour and 45 minutes. A typical session includes a chairperson, a technical host (for virtual sessions), three to four papers, and discussants (paper presenters may serve as discussants on each others' papers). Organizers decide if discussants are assigned to specific papers or if comments will be part of the general group discussion. Other formats, such as panels or roundtables, may also be used. 

Information Needed

After receiving commitments from session participants, send the following information to WEAI:

• Session title.
• One JEL topic area code.
• Professional affiliations and e-mail addresses for all participants (including coauthors). Please indicate paper presenter with an asterisk (*).
• Paper titles (if applicable).

A fill-in session template is available, or if you have a format used for previous WEAI conferences, that is also acceptable as long as the information outlined above is included.

Please submit your session details early. Submit revised information with “track changes” turned on so that each revision is clearly marked. All session communication is done via email to [email protected].

Conference Format

The format is intended to promote active involvement by all attendees — most of the economists attending will be on the program. In addition to the keynote sessions, the program consists of small discussion groups meeting concurrently. Including program participants, session attendance may range from 6 to 60, depending on the time of day and the topic’s popularity, etc. However, the most fruitful discussions often occur among small groups of interested individuals. Your session can benefit by inviting experts besides those on the program to attend.

Registration Fees

All attendees are asked to pay the conference registration fee. Please inform prospective participants that they are responsible for their own expenses. Organized session participants may register at the member rate even if they are nonmembers, but are cordially invited to join the Association.

WEAI members receive complimentary conference registration if (i) they are employed by an Institutional Member, (ii) they organize a session in which at least three participants pay the usual registration fee, and (iii) everyone in the session registers by the deadline.

Waiver of Journal Manuscript Submission Fees

WEAI members can submit their conference papers to either Economic Inquiry or Contemporary Economic Policy without paying the usual manuscript submission fee provided the manuscripts reach the editors within six months after the conference.

Dates to Remember

• November 15: Session information is due to WEAI.
• March 1: Deadline for program participants to register.
• March 1: Deadline to take advantage of early registration discount.
• March 1: Verify that all session participants have received copies of all papers.

Conference Registration

Fees below apply to everyone 'attending' the conference (after March 1, rates increase $45):

• US$99 for members
• US$175 for non-members (Join now for $55 and save!)
• US$35 for student members
• US$70 for student non-members (Join now for $30 and save!)

Discounts

• WEAI Institutional Member affiliates are eligible for a 20% discount on registration fees. For the code to take the discount at checkout, contact your designated representative or contact WEAI at [email protected].
• Early registration closes on March 1, after which fees increase $45. 

Benefits

• Access to all general and concurrent sessions and virtual social activities (to be announced).
• Waiver of manuscript submission fees for current WEAI members submitting their conference paper to Economic Inquiry or Contemporary Economic Policy by September 30, 2021.

Policies

• Program participants must register by March 1 to remain on the conference program. 

Time Zones

Session times are listed in UTC/GMT time and will run around the clock March 17 to 19. Participants will be joining from all around the world, so we are making this a truly international conference. When sessions are assembled, session participants will decide collectively what time period and day works best depending on their respective time zones.

Tentative Schedule

Time periods will begin on even hours beginning March 17 at 12:00am (view schedule)

Cancellation & Refund Policies

• Cancellations must be received in writing. Please e-mail [email protected].

• Program participants must advise the participants in their session(s) of their cancellation.

• Refunds for program participants:
  Volunteer abstract submission fees are non-refundable upon accept/reject decision. If a volunteer paper abstract is not accepted for the program, the full submission and registration fee is refundable. For cancellation by a participant on or before February 1, fifty percent (50%) of registration fee is refundable. After February 1, the registration fee is non-refundable due to the high administrative cost of rearranging the affected sessions and participants.

• Refunds for all others, not on the program: 
  On or before March 1, the full registration fee is refundable, less $25 handling fee. After March 1, the registration fee is non-refundable.

• Membership dues are non-refundable.

• Refunds will be processed after the conference and are subject to a $25 handling fee.