About the NIE

The Network of Industrial Economists is a forum for interchange among university economists in the UK and the world and for interaction between academia, business, and government on topics of industry economics.

UK industrial economists established a study group in the 1970s, with mainly small, scattered, informal, London-centric meetings. In the 1990s,the study group enlarged and developed more regional involvement plus more participation from members researching different areas of industry economics: industries, firms, regulation, trade, technology, and national and regional growth. The by-then Network of Industrial Economists had become a forum not only for interchange about research, but also for two-way interaction between researchers and members from business, consultancy, and government agencies. The Network members are numerous and active; meetings often attract over 50 participants, half of all members choose to receive frequent communication via the Network's electronic discussion group, and total membership sums to roughly 400.

Meetings have recently occurred around twice a year. A main annual meeting is open to all the Network's research sub-disciplines. Additional meetings focus on targeted issues, bringing together key researchers on important topics to share findings and methods and to communicate these issues to other researchers and policy makers. Meeting lengths have been two days for annual meetings and one to two days for topical meetings, in order to maximise participation and research benefits. Meetings have been in various locations throughout the UK.

The importance of the Network of Industrial Economists is:
  • the crucial economic issues in its research and conference themes
  • NIE members personal and career growth through improved research
  • its active participation by business and government policy makers.

Aims

  1. Facilitate communication and collaboration among industrial economists from academia, government, and industry.
  2. Promote the exchange of ideas and research on industrial economics through conferences, workshops, webinars, and other events.
  3. Provide a forum for industrial economists to discuss and debate current issues and challenges facing the field.
  4. Support the development of new research and teaching in industrial economics.
  5. Promote diversity and inclusion within and beyond the network.
  6. Support the professional growth and development of network members.

Membership

Open to all participants, subject to payment of any conference fees.