The Association
The International Atlantic Economic Society was organized in 1973 as a not-for-profit membership organization. Members include economists and finance experts from academe, government, and the private sector. The Society’s purpose is to provide an educational and scientific forum for the global community of economists and others in related disciplines. By offering a variety of venues for communication, the opportunity is enhanced for the exchange of scholarly ideas and scientific research worldwide. Members are welcomed from all areas of educational and scientific specialization without regard to methodological or political preferences.
The International Atlantic Economic Society identified a need for increased communication among economists across continents. Well-known economists from around the world have participated in the IAES global exchange, including Nobel laureates and leading government officials. In fact, several IAES Presidents have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics. Perfect freedom to pursue economic research and discussion is encouraged to stimulate the cross-fertilization of ideas among educators and researchers. Through its publications and conferences, the Society promotes the dissemination of economic and financial research within the international community.
The Best Undergraduate Paper Award
To encourage undergraduate interest in economic issues,Viral V. Acharya, President of the International Atlantic Economic Society, and N. Gregory Mankiw, Vice President of the International Atlantic Economic Society, cordially invite students to compete in the IAES Annual Best Undergraduate Paper Award (BUPA) competition in October 2026. The IAES strives to recognize and reward outstanding research conducted by undergraduate students worldwide. Each year, four finalists are selected to present their research orally.
All finalists will receive $100, a commemorative plaque, and will be invited to publish an 800 word summary of their research in the Atlantic Economic Journal.
The winner will receive $1000, a handsome commemorative plaque recognizing their accomplishment and the complimentary publication of the paper in the Atlantic Economic Journal.
Application procedure
Format of the Paper
The paper must conform to The AEJ manuscript style instructions, and:
1) must be 10 – 20 pages in length including the Blinded Manuscript Title page and tables/figures- submitted in MS Word format, PDF and LaTeX files are NOT acceptable.
2) the Blinded Manuscript Title page must contain the Paper’s Title, 250 word maximum abstract, JEL numbers, and the paper’s keywords. It may not contain any further information.
3) the Separate Title page (not part of the 10-20 pages) must include: (a) full name of student; (b) affiliation; (c) email address; and (d) phone number.
4) papers not following these guidelines will be rejected.
Where Do I Submit My Paper?
Please submit the paper to journals@iaes.org by 16 June 2026 with the subject line: “Best Undergraduate Paper Competition – Last Name of Student”.
DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR PAPER TO EDITORIAL MANAGER. ONLY THE 4 FINALISTS WILL BE INVITED TO SUBMIT THEIR PAPERS TO EDITORIAL MANAGER AFTER THE ORAL PRESENTATIONS AND SELECTION OF THE WINNER.
Additional Requirements
Include a letter from the student’s Faculty Mentor certifying:
A. That the paper was written while the author was an undergraduate.
B. If the student has already graduated from the undergraduate program, that the degree was conferred within the past academic year.
C. That the paper has not already been published or submitted for publication elsewhere.
D. Ordinarily, the letter would confirm that the department will sponsor the student’s potential hotel and travel costs if the student is selected as a finalist. However, due to the fact that the Finalists will present their papers virtually this year, there will be no hotel and travel costs, making this unnecessary.
Selection of Finalists
1. Up to four finalists will be notified of their selection. Finalists will be required to make a formal presentation on Saturday 10 October 2026.
2. Finalists will be judged on both presentation and content. A panel of judges will announce the winning paper after the presentations.
