Introducing IDEA – the International Development Economics Association Owen Ozier June 24, 2026 This page in: English

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/impactevaluations/introducing-idea---the-international-development-economics-assoc Labor economists have the Society of Labor Economists. Health economists have the International Health Economics Association. Economic historians have the Economic History Association. What about development economists? Development economists now have a global professional home. The International Development Economics Association (IDEA), founded in January 2026 by a Founding Board of 89 scholars from over 40 countries, invites development economists worldwide to join its community today. I am writing as a member of the first elected Board of Directors. Our board of directors spans six continents; we started work in April, 2026. If you prefer news in video format, here’s a short video that introduces IDEA, featuring Dean Yang, Farah Said, Ashani Amarasinghe, Nishith Prakash, Emily Beam, Giorgio Chiovelli, Tarun Jain, Paolo Falco, Edward Asiedu, Eric Edmonds, Willa Friedman, and me.