The European Economic Association is eager to promote a scientific evaluation of research and education in economics carried out in Europe. The EEA views this evaluation as a key step toward improving higher education in economics in European Universities.

For this purpose, the EEA invited bids - end of 2000 - for carrying out the task of ranking economics departments throughout Europe and of comparing them with the top US departments.

These results were published in the Journal of the European Economic Association December 2003, Volume 1 Issue 6. Published by MIT Press.

The introductory paper can be downloaded below and the other papers are listed on MIT Press  (Economics, Finance and Business journals).

"Evaluating Economics Research in Europe: An Introduction" by J. Peter Neary, James A. Mirrless and Jean Tirole

The selection committee was composed of:

Sir James Mirlees, Past-President of the EEA (chair)
Jean Tirole, President of the EEA
Peter Neary, President -Elect of the EEA

The awarded contracts were given to:

Pierre-Philippe COMBES, CERAS-ENPC, Paris and Laurent LINNEMER, Université de Lille II and CREST
"Where are the Economists who publish? Publication concentration and rankings in Europe based on cumulative publications"

Tom COUPÉ, ECARES
"Revealed Performances: Worldwide Rankings of Economists and Economics Departments, 1990-2000"

Pantelis KALAITZIDAKIS, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Theofanis MAMUNEAS, University of Cyprus, Nicosia and Thanasis STENGOS, University of Guelph.
"Rankings of Academic Journals and INstitutions in Economics"

Michel LUBRANO, GREQUAM, Aix-Marseille, Alan KIRMAN, GREQUAM, Aix-Marseille,
Luc BAUWENS, CORE, Louvain-la-Neuve and Camelia Protopopescu, GREQUAM, Aix-Marseille
"Ranking of Economics Departments in Europe: A Statistical Approach"

Kostas AXARLOGLOU ALBA, Athens and Vasilis THEOHARAKIS ALBA, Athens.
"Diversity in Economics: An Analysis of Journal Quality Perceptions"