The 2024 Editors-in-Chief Face-to-Face Conference on Economics was successfully held at Beijing Jiaotong University from May 28 to June 6, 2024. The conference was organized by the School of Economics and Management of Beijing Jiaotong University and Elsevier. It was conducted in the form of ZOOM online conference and was simultaneously livestreamed by Elsevier. The conference invited the editors of the seven top journals in the field of economics and academics and scholars in China to gather online to discuss journal publication issues and the latest research in various sub-fields of economics. The conference was divided into two modules, the plenary meeting and the thematic lecture series. With its high-level positioning, cutting-edge themes, rich content, multi-dimensional interaction and innovative forms of activities, the conference attracted more than 50,000 participants. Registered scholars came from University of British Columbia, University of Glasgow, Yale University, Columbia University, Indiana University, Monash University, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China and so on. The conference received widespread attention and follow-up from many academic groups and media.
The ten invited editors of the seven top economics journals were Nathan Nunn, co-editor of The Quarterly Journal of Economics, professor in University of British Columbia; Stephen Ross, co-editor of American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, Professor in University of Connecticut; Hervé Moulin, editor-in-chief of Games and Economic Behavior, Professor in University of Glasgow; Martín Uribe, co-editor-in-chief of Journal of International Economics, Professor in Columbia University; Costas Arkolakis, co-editor-in-chief of Journal of International Economics, Professor in Yale University; Lata Gangadharan, co-editor-in-chief of Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Professor in Monash University; Daniela Puzzello, co-editor-in-chief of Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Professor in Indiana University; Andreas Lange, co-editor-in-chief of Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Professor in Universität Hamburg; Robert Johnston, co-editor-in-chief of Resource and Energy Economics, Professor in Clark University; Stefan Ambec, co-editor-in-chief of Resource and Energy Economics, Professor in Toulouse School of Economics.
The conference kicked off with the first module of the thematic lecture series held from May 28 to June 5, 2024. It consisted of 7 thematic lectures, each of which invited one editor to present his or her up-to-date research, and two well-known scholars in the same field were invited to make in-depth comments. Seven editors of top economic journals gave lectures on “Aggregate Implications of Firm Heterogeneity: A Nonparametric Analysis of Monopolistic Competition Trade Model”, “Fiat Exchange in the Laboratory”, “The Design of Welfare Guarantees”, “Efforts and Morals in Markets: Experimental Evidence on Technology Choice and Voluntary Donations”, “The Economics of Carbon Leakage Mitigation Policies”, “ Driving Change: Evaluating Connecticut’s Collaborative Approach to Reducing Racial Disparities in Policing”, “On the Causes and Consequences of Zero-Sum Thinking”. The invited discussants, in order of commentary time, were Hongsong Zhang, Associate Professor, University of Hong Kong; Xiang Ding, Assistant Professor, Georgetown University; Jie Zheng, Professor, Shandong University; Li King King, Associate Professor, Shenzhen University; Yuqing Kong, Assistant Professor, Peking University; Bo Li, Assistant Professor, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Binglin Gong, Research Fellow, East China Normal University; Zhi Li, Associate Professor, Xiamen University; Zhongxiang Zhang, Professor, Tianjin University; Maosheng Duan, Research Fellow, Tsinghua University; Shihe Fu, Professor, Wuhan University; Qian Weng, Associate Professor, Renmin University of China; James Kai-Sing Kung, Professor, University of Melbourne; Ruixue Jia, Associate Professor, UC San Diego.
The discussants’ incisive remarks further enhanced the participants’ comprehension of the cutting-edge research presented by the invited editors, covering diverse aspects including the design of research, the construction of models, the methodologies for data acquisition and processing, the practicality of conclusions, and the policy-oriented implications. Additionally, during the interactive Q&A session, the participants enthusiastically joined the discussions, sparking novel perspectives and insights.
The second module of the plenary meeting was held on June 6, 2024. It was moderated by Professor Yacan Wang from Beijing Jiaotong University. The seven editors engaged with senior experts and young scholars, discussing the issues of journal positioning, submission, and publication. The editors talked about their experiences in manuscript reviewing, and offered targeted advice on critical considerations for authors, trending topics of interest, and crucial steps to follow up during the submission and revision process of returned manuscripts. Furthermore, the editors highlighted recent submissions from Chinese scholars, sparking keen interest among the participants. Enthusiastic responses were evident, as many questions from participants poured in through various platforms like ZOOM and WeChat scholar groups. The editors responded thoroughly to each question, clearing up the doubts and misconceptions encountered by participants, especially younger researchers, during the process of writing and submitting manuscripts.
The 2024 Editors-in-Chief Face-to-Face Conference on Economics, hosted by the School of Economics and Management at Beijing Jiaotong University, has been hailed as a resounding success. This prestigious event, now in its fourth iteration, continues to uphold the university’s “Zhi Xing” motto, fostering an environment of academic excellence and international scholarly exchange. With the collaboration of Elsevier, a leading academic publisher, the conference featured ten editors from seven top economics journals, offering a unique opportunity for Chinese scholars and researchers to hold direct and constructive dialogues with the leading scholars in the field of Economics.
Looking ahead, the conference organizers are committed to building on this year’s success, aiming at further expanding the international reach and impact of the event. With a focus on inclusivity and innovation, the conference aspires to continue serving as a catalyst for academic growth, fostering a vibrant and outstanding community of economists and researchers. We believe the research in Economics would be prosper more worldwide, and we will make every effort to support young researchers and scholars in their pursuit of academic excellence.