About FREIT

FREIT exists to give researchers in empirical international trade places to present their work and access cutting-edge research in the field. FREIT grew out of a single conference at Purdue University in 1994 (see a short history of FREIT).

We organize annual conferences across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, deliberately spread so that a trade economist anywhere has a meeting within reach. The conferences are informal and discussion-heavy, and they are open to researchers at every stage of their careers. Papers are selected on their merits, regardless of the affiliation or rank of their authors. Since 1994, 851 economists from 375 institutions have presented or discussed papers at FREIT conferences. Every paper is presented to the full audience, with no parallel sessions, so junior and senior researchers hear and discuss each other’s work, which often leads to new collaborations.

We put particular effort into researchers who are early in their careers or outside the established networks. EIIT has run a graduate student paper competition since its inception, covering the winner’s travel and accommodation, and SETC does the same. EITI draws heavily on junior researchers. Getting good work seen is as much a part of what we do as putting it on a program.

FREIT is based at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where its operations and conference coordination are managed.