Individuals are welcome to submit an abstract for possible presentation on the program in a volunteer session. Papers will be blind reviewed by a screening committee member and decision emails will be sent in early February. Each paper presenter will be expected to serve as a discussant for another volunteer paper in order to ensure that everyone receives comments on their research. 

Present a Volunteer Paper | SORRY, NOW CLOSED

Step 1: Register to attend and pay paper submission fee

Step 2: Submit an abstract  (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 ($75) and registration fees are required prior to submission of your abstract (see Registration tab for applicable fee). Limit two papers per submitter; two papers require two submission fees.

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 assigned discussant one month prior to the conference. Conference proceedings are not published.

Questions? Contact [email protected].
 

Discuss a Paper or Chair a Session

Discuss a paper and give others the benefit of your expertise. Discussants are needed in all topic areas. Chair a session and foster the exchange of ideas. If you are interested in serving as a discussant or chair, but are not presenting a volunteer paper, please email [email protected].

Organize a Session | Deadline February 1, 2020

Sessions in all areas of economics are welcome.

Organize your own session and take charge of all the details including the quality of the papers presented. Scheduling preference given to organized sessions. 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 so that we are able to plan for the necessary space! 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 to attend by May 1.
• Make sure your session participants circulate completed papers by June 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, three to four papers, and discussants, with at least one discussant assigned to comment on each paper (paper presenters may serve as discussants on each others' papers). Other formats, such as panels or roundtables, may also be used. Must include at least three registered participants.

Session Scheduling Requests

If extenuating circumstances allow a participant to attend only part of the conference, please include a scheduling request with your preliminary session information.

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 in previous years that is also acceptable as long as the information outlined above is included.

Program space is limited; please submit your session details early. Please submit revised information with “track changes” turned on so that each revision is clearly marked. 

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 during each time period. 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, including WEAI Officers and Board Members, are asked to pay the conference registration fee to help defray the sizable cost of organizing the conference. 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

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

Friday, June 26

12:00 pm-8:00 pm -- Registration Open
12:30 pm-2:15 pm -- Concurrent Sessions
2:30 pm-4:15 pm -- Concurrent Sessions
4:30 pm-6:15 pm -- Concurrent Sessions
6:30 pm-8:00 pm -- Welcome Reception

Saturday, June 27

7:30 am-6:30 pm -- Registration Open
8:15 am-10:00 am -- Concurrent Sessions
10:15 am-12:00 n -- Concurrent Sessions
12:30 pm-2:15 pm -- Concurrent Sessions
2:30 pm-4:15 pm -- Concurrent Sessions
4:30 pm-6:15 pm -- Concurrent Sessions

Sunday, June 28

8:00 am-6:30 pm -- Registration Open
8:15 am-10:00 am -- Concurrent Sessions
10:15 am-12:00 n -- Keynote Address by Maurice Obstfeld, University of California, Berkeley
12:15 pm-2:15 pm -- Presidential Luncheon and Annual Business Meeting, John Shoven, Stanford University
2:30 pm-4:15 pm -- Concurrent Sessions
4:30 pm-6:15 pm -- Concurrent Sessions

Monday, June 29

8:00 am-6:30 pm -- Registration Open
8:15 am-10:00 am -- Concurrent Sessions
10:15 am-12:00 n -- Concurrent Sessions
12:30 pm-2:15 pm -- Concurrent Sessions
2:30 pm-4:15 pm -- Concurrent Sessions
4:30 pm-6:15 pm -- Concurrent Sessions

Tuesday, June 30

8:00 am-12:00 pm -- Registration Open
8:15 am-10:00 am -- Concurrent Sessions
10:15 am-12:00 n -- Concurrent Sessions

Conference Close

Registration fees below apply to everyone attending the conference:

• US$185 for members (increases to $230 after May 15, 2020)
• US$265 for non-members (increases to $310 after May 15, 2020)
• US$95 for student members (increases to $140 after May 15, 2020)
• US$130 for student non-members (increases to $175 after May 15, 2020)
• US$50 for non-economist guests over 18 years of age

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 1-714-965-8800 or [email protected].
• Early registration closes on May 15, after which fees increase $45. 

Benefits

• Conference program and complimentary conference bag.
• Admittance to all general and concurrent sessions; coffee breaks; and Welcome Reception.
• Waiver of manuscript submission fees for current WEAI members submitting their conference paper to Economic Inquiry or Contemporary Economic Policy by December 31, 2020.

Policies

• Program participants must register by May 1 to remain on the conference program. 
• Everyone over the age of 18 must register, including spouses and adult guests. 
• Badges are required at all conference events, including sessions, coffee breaks, receptions, and special activities. 

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 registration fee is refundable. For cancellation by a participant on or before March 1, fifty percent (50%) of registration fee is refundable. After March 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 June 1, the full registration fee is refundable, less $25 handling fee. After June 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.
   

Audio-Visual Equipment

• LCD projectors and screens will be provided in each meeting room. Projectors have VGA and HDMI connections. There will be some adapters available, but to be sure, bring your own adapter for connectivity to the projector.

• LAPTOP COMPUTERS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED, so coordinate with your fellow session participants if you need one available.

• If other equipment is required please call 714-965-8800 for prices and availability. Additional equipment is at your own expense.

Important Dates

March 1: Volunteer program participants' cancellation deadline with 50% refund.
May 1: Registration deadline for program participants.
May 15: $45 early registration discount ends.
May 31: Last day to make room reservations at the conference rate, on a space available basis.
June 1: Deadline to purchase/reserve special activity tickets.
June 1: Paper presenters circulate papers to all session participants.
June 1: Cancellation and refund deadline (for all except volunteer program participants, see March 1 above).
 

Travel Visas

• Requirements vary depending on your country of citizenship, so please read carefully and apply for your visa allowing ample lead time for processing. 

• Review the latest visa information from the U.S. Department of State.

• To request a letter of invitation after you've completed your conference registration, email [email protected].

Grand Hyatt Denver

1750 Welton Street, Denver, CO 80202 USA
Tel: 1-303-295-1234 

Online Reservations:
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/DENRD/G-WEAC.

Phone Reservations:
1-877-803-7534 (reference group WEAI 95th Annual Conference)

Conference Group Rate:

• $225 per night single or double. 
• Taxes and fees are currently 15.75% per room per night (subject to change without notice).
• Group rates apply June 23 through July 3, 2020, based on availability in contracted block.
   

Cancellation Policy:

• To avoid a one night's room and tax penalty, reservations must be cancelled at least 48 hours before scheduled check-in.
   

General Information:

• If making a reservation by phone, be sure to identify yourself as part of the WEAI conference to receive the reduced group rates.
• Reservations must be made directly with the Hyatt online or by phone.
• Make your hotel reservations by June 2. The group rate will be available until June 2 or until the WEAI room block is full, whichever comes first. The conference room rates are available to registered participants for a limited time only.
• Check-in is 3:00 p.m. Check-out is 12:00 n.

Designed to help students prepare for the highly-competitive job market, this program offers selected Ph.D. candidates hands-on experience in job-market paper presentation skills and interview techniques. Since 2009 the workshop has been held in conjunction with WEAI’s Annual Conference, which in 2020 will be June 26th-30th, at the Grand Hyatt Denver in Denver, Colorado. 

2020 Selected Students and Workshop Groups

Group #1 |  Development & Labor
Advisor: Francisca M. Antman, University of Colorado, Boulder

• Maria Caballero, Carnegie Mellon University - Department of Economics
  The Impact of Destination Immigration Policies on Origin-Country Human Capital Investment
• Eduardo Cenci, University of Wisconsin, Madision - Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics
  Internal Migration and the Spread of Long-Term Impacts of Historical Immigration in Brazil
• Grant Graziani, University of California, Berkeley - Department of Economics
  Provider Practice Styles and Patient Race: Evidence from Primary Care
• Ezra Karger, University of Chicago - Department of Economics
  The Long-Run Effect of Public Libraries on Children: Evidence from the Early 1900s

Group #2 | Health, Labor and Welfare Economics
Advisor: Jane Ruseski, West Virginia University 

• Anne Burton, Cornell University - Department of Economics
  Smoking Bans in Bars and Restaurants, Alcohol Consumption, and Social Welfare
• Luciana Etcheverry, University of Oregon - Department of Economics
  Effect of Paid Paternity Leave on Paternal Involvement and Labor Market Outcomes
• Alexa Prettyman, Georgia State University - Department of Economics
  Happy 18th Birthday, Now Leave: The Hardships of Aging Out of Foster Care
• Siddhartha Sanghi, Washington State University, St. Louis - Department of Economics
  Health Inequality: Role of Insurance and Technological Progress

Group #3 | Games, Experiments & Rationality
Advisor: Jason Shogren, University of Wyoming 

• Jefferson A. Arapoc, University of Newcastle, Australia - Department of Economics
  Impacts of Wealth Distribution Systems on Individual Trust
• Lasse Mononen, Princeton University - Department of Economics
  The Foundations of Measuring Rationality
• Chelsea Pardini, Washington State University - Department of Economic Sciences
  Game-Theoretic Analysis of US Settlement Allowing for Coercion and Activism
• Yuxin Su, Claremont Graduate University - Department of Economics
  How to Improve Motivation Using Pro-social Bonuses: An Experiment

Group #4 | Dan's World of Applied Micro
Advisor: Daniel I. Rees, University of Colorado, Denver

• Nicolas Carollo, University of California, Los Angeles - Department of Economics
  The Effect of Occupational Licensing and Certification Policies on Wage and Employment Dynamics
• Christina Kent, Stanford University - Department of Economics 
  When A Town Wins the Lottery: Evidence from Spain
• James Sayre, University of California, Berkeley - Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics
  Make Avocados not Drugs: Export Opportunities, Criminal Organizations, and Rural Development in Mexico
• Katherine Wen, Cornell University - Department of Policy Analysis & Management
  The Effects of Influenza Vaccine Mandates in Nursing Homes