Code of Professional Conduct

[Version 1.0 – Date of Publication November, 9, 2020]

The EEA is an international scientific body, with membership open to all persons involved or interested in economics. The aims of the European Economic Association are:

• to contribute to the development and application of economics as a science in Europe;
• to improve communication and exchange between teachers, researchers and students in economics in the different European countries;
• to develop and sponsor co-operation between teaching institutions of university level and research institutions in Europe.

The EEA holds that achievement of these goals requires a commitment to the EEA’s core values of intellectual and professional integrity, care, honesty, accountability, and transparency. To help achieve these goals, this document establishes a Code of Professional Conduct for EEA members. The Code of Professional Conduct set forth herein is not exhaustive but instead provides a common set of principles to guide the actions of EEA members. This document complements the EEA Ethical Principles for the European Economist, which provides basic guidelines for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of research in economics.

The EEA expects its members to adhere to the following core principles:

1. EEA members are expected to conduct themselves ethically, honestly, and with integrity in all dealings.
2. EEA members should behave in ways that encourage the free expression and exchange of scientific ideas. They should strive for an inclusive environment for all their colleagues, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, health condition, marital status, parental status, genetic information, or any other reason not related to scientific merit.
3. EEA members should not engage in discrimination in their activities, whether based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, health condition, marital status, parental status, genetic information, or any other applicable basis proscribed by law.
4. EEA members should not harass any person. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, unwelcome conduct that creates a work environment that a reasonable person would consider demeaning, intimidating, abusive, hostile, or offensive. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome explicit sexual solicitation, physical advance, or implicit sexual solicitation, such as verbal or non-verbal conduct that is sexual. Racial harassment includes unnecessary, exaggerated, or unwarranted attention or attack, whether verbal or non-verbal, because of a person’s race or ethnicity.
5. EEA members should not take actions, verbal or otherwise, that create a hostile environment, even if such actions do not target specific individuals.
6. With respect to persons over whom EEA members have direct or indirect supervisory, evaluative, or other authority, EEA members should not use their position to coerce or manipulate (explicitly or implicitly) any such person for personal, economic, or professional advantage.
7. All individuals must behave responsibly in EEA activities in which they participate. Harassment (including verbal comments relating to gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, age, national origin, gender identity or expression), deliberate intimidation, stalking, unauthorized or inappropriate photography or recording, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention, will not be tolerated.

By registering as a member of EEA, you acknowledge to have read and understood the core principles set out in this Code of Professional Conduct and you agree to be bound by these principles.  

EEA reserves the right to update or amend this Code of Professional Conduct at any time.  EEA shall ensure that all of its members shall be duly notified of any changes to this Code of Professional Conduct.  Should any EEA member deem the changes to be unacceptable, the respective member shall have the right to terminate its membership with EEA within a period of thirty (30) days following notification of the changes by EEA.  In such case, the respective EEA member shall not be entitled to any pro-rata refund of the membership fees that have already been paid. 

This Code of Professional Conduct shall be exclusively governed by and interpreted in accordance with Belgian law. Only the courts of Hasselt, Belgium shall have jurisdiction to rule on any dispute concerning the validity, the interpretation, execution of and the adherence to this Code of Professional Conduct.