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AAEA is the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, a not-for-profit professional association for economists who work on agricultural, food, environmental, rural and related applied economics problems. If you reached this page looking for another “AAEA” acronym, this guide covers the economics association only. Below: what it does, which of its publications fits which research purpose, and how researchers use its meetings, sections and awards.
What AAEA stands for and what it is
AAEA stands for the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association. On its About page (read 2026-11-08) the association describes itself as a “not-for-profit association serving the professional interests of members”. Its stated mission is to enhance the skills, knowledge and professional contributions of economists who help society solve agricultural, development, environmental and related applied economics and business problems.
The About page says members are employed by academic or government institutions, with others in industry and not-for-profit organisations, and that their work spans teaching, research and extension or outreach.
AAEA journals and publications: which one fits your purpose
AAEA’s Publications page (read 2026-11-08) lists six outlets. The table restates what that page says about each and what kind of work it suits.
| Outlet | What AAEA says it is | Access stated | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Journal of Agricultural Economics (AJAE) | “The leading journal for agricultural economics”; five issues a year including a proceedings issue | Free to AAEA members | Full research articles in agricultural economics |
| Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy (AEPP) | Four issues a year with featured and submitted articles; formerly the Review of Agricultural Economics | Free to AAEA members | Policy-oriented applied economics |
| Journal of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (JAAEA) | Peer-reviewed journal across a broad range of agricultural and applied economics topics, published with Wiley | Open access | Research that should be openly readable |
| Applied Economics Education & Extension (AEEE) | Online, peer-reviewed series for teaching scholarship, case studies and classroom games; formerly Applied Economics Teaching Resources | Not stated | Teaching and extension scholarship |
| Choices | AAEA’s principal outreach vehicle; peer-reviewed coverage of the economic implications of food, farm, resource or rural community issues for a broad audience | Free, online | Plain-language outreach to non-specialists |
| The Exchange | Bi-weekly electronic newsletter with association announcements, membership news and updates from the profession | Emailed to members | Staying current on association news |
The “Suits” column is an editorial reading of the descriptions, not an AAEA rule. Check each journal’s own author guidelines before submitting.
AAEA Annual Meeting
According to the About page, the 2027 AAEA Annual Meeting is scheduled for July 25-27, 2027 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. The association also lists AAEA sessions at the ASSA annual meetings, Washington DC, January 3-5, 2027. Dates and venues change, so confirm them on the AAEA site before booking.
Sections, mentorship, awards and Fellows
- Sections: subgroups formed by members with common interests or focuses.
- Mentorship: the About page lists a Mentorship program under Membership.
- Awards: outstanding contributions are recognised at an annual Awards Ceremony.
- Fellows: AAEA Fellows are named through an annual selection.
How researchers use AAEA alongside other research infrastructure
- Classify your paper before submission with JEL codes, the economics subject classification used by journals and working-paper series.
- Compare outlets using RePEc journal rankings if your department or funder asks for a ranking.
- Find public agricultural and food data through the USDA Economic Research Service.
- For the wider field, see what is economics and what is behavioral economics.
Frequently asked questions
What does AAEA stand for?
Agricultural & Applied Economics Association.
Who are AAEA members?
Per AAEA’s About page, economists employed in academic and government institutions, industry and not-for-profit organisations, working in teaching, research and extension.
Which AAEA journal is open access?
The Publications page marks JAAEA as open access and Choices as free online. AJAE and AEPP are listed as free to members.
Where is the next AAEA Annual Meeting?
AAEA lists the 2027 meeting at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, July 25-27, 2027.
Sources
- AAEA, About AAEA, aaea.org/about-aaea, read 2026-11-08.
- AAEA, Publications, aaea.org/publications, read 2026-11-08.
