| Formation | 1890 (as the British Economic Association) 1902 (became Royal Economic Society on receiving a Royal Charter) |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Registered charity |
| Purpose | Promoting the study of economic science |
| Headquarters | London, UK |
Members | 3,110 (as of 10 May 2021[update])[1] |
President: | Prof Sir Christopher Pissarides (2024-25) |
| Website | res.org.uk |
The Royal Economic Society (RES) is a professional association that promotes the study of economic science in academia, government service, banking, industry, and public affairs. Originally established in 1890 as the British Economic Association, it was incorporated by royal charter on 2 December 1902. The Society is a charity registered with the U.K. Charity Commission under charity number 231508.[2]
The Society is led by a Trustee Board that is responsible for developing and executing the Society's policies and activities. The Society's current president is Prof Sir Christopher Pissarides. In addition, the RES supports a number of committees, including the Women’s Committee, the Conference of Heads of University Departments of Economics (CHUDE) and the Standards of Conduct Committee.
The RES has two peer-reviewed publications: The Economic Journal, first published in 1891, and The Econometrics Journal, first published in 1998. Both journals are available online through the RES website.[3] The Society's other activities include an annual conference,[4] providing grants and training, a regular member newsletter, and conducting various outreach activities, including an annual public lecture and an essay competition for young economists.
In 2017, the Society created a centralised office in Westminster, London, and appointed its first Chief Executive, Leighton Chipperfield. In 2019, the Society launched a new strategy with a greater focus on promoting the discipline and improving diversity. The RES subsequently announced the launch of Discover Economics, a campaign geared to changing perceptions of economics among young people and attracting students from under-represented groups. Following a member consultation, in late 2023 the RES launched its 2024-2028 strategy with a focus on four strategic priorities:
In 2023, the RES announced it was launching an Institutional Membership programme. The Bank of England, the Government Economic Service and Frontier Economics were announced as the Society's first institutional members.