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 anthropology, economics, government, health policy, history, 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, most recently the April 2009 conference “What Just Happened? What’s Next.”

Eight dissertation fellowships and six research grants have been awarded to graduate students for summer 2009 and the academic year 2009–2010. The award recipients are in the fields of economics, government, history, law, social policy, and sociology. JWE hosts a variety of activities during the year, including regular dinner meetings with invited guest speakers, luncheons during which graduate students can present their work, and an annual conference.

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, Benjamin M. Friedman, Jerry Green, Jennifer Hochschild, James Kloppenberg, Michael Kremer, Daryl J. Levinson, Jane J. Mansbridge, Frank Michelman, Martha Minow, Sendhil Mullainathan, Nancy Rosenblum, Alvin Roth, Michael Sandel, Thomas Scanlon, Amartya Sen, Tommie Shelby, Beth A. Simmons, Dennis Thompson, Laurence H. Tribe, and Richard Tuck. 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 Web site
• Current Program Affiliates
• Funding: Justice, Welfare, and Economics Dissertation Fellowships