The Project on Justice, Welfare, and Economics (JWE) seeks to foster scholarly research by faculty and graduate students on issues at the intersection of economics and the other social sciences, as well as law and ethics. The main thrust of this initiative is to stimulate new research and teaching in this area and to support the work of younger scholars that encompasses and integrates ethical, political, and economic dimensions of human development. To meet this aim, JWE awards dissertation fellowships and research grants each year to Harvard graduate students whose research topics are relevant to the work of the project. Since its inception in June 2001, JWE has awarded research grants to graduate students in the fields of African and African American studies, anthropology, economics, government, health policy, history, history of American civilization, law, philosophy, sociology, and social policy.

JWE also hosts a variety of formal and informal events to foster a community of scholars whose research and knowledge connect the study of freedom, justice, and economics to human welfare and development. The project has also sponsored conferences on a variety of topics, with two planned for 2011–2012: “Gandhi and Tagore: Rethinking the Legacy of Anti-Colonial Political Economy” and “Unfreedom Globally.”

Eight dissertation fellowships have been awarded to graduate students for the academic year 2011–2012. The award recipients are in the fields of economics, government, history, history of American civilization, and law. JWE hosts a variety of activities during the year, including lectures by guest speakers, luncheons during which graduate students can present their work, workshops, and conferences.

Walter Johnson, Winthrop Professor of History and Professor of African and African American Studies, is the faculty chair of JWE. The members of the faculty committee involved in the initiative, in addition to Professor Johnson, are Professors Philippe Aghion, Beatriz Armendáriz, Sven Beckert, Sugata Bose, Christine Desan, Alison Frank, Benjamin M. Friedman, Jerry Green, Jennifer Hochschild, James Kloppenberg, Michael Kremer, Jane J. Mansbridge, Frank Michelman, Sendhil Mullainathan, Thomas Ponniah, Nancy Rosenblum, Alvin Roth, Emma Rothschild, Michael Sandel, Thomas Scanlon, Amartya Sen, Tommie Shelby, Beth A. Simmons, Dennis Thompson, Laurence H. Tribe, Richard Tuck, Adrian Vermeule, Bruce Western, and Christopher Winship. The project officer is Jessica Barnard.

The Project on Justice, Welfare, and Economics is anchored in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, but also includes professors and students at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, and other schools of the University. The Provost's Office provides general oversight for the project, which is housed at 1727 Cambridge Street.

Related Links

• Project on Justice, Welfare, and Economics Website
• Current Program Affiliates
• Funding: Justice, Welfare, and Economics Dissertation Fellowships