The Expanding Diversity in Economics (EDE) Summer Institute is a rigorous, three-week program designed to encourage students early in their college careers, especially those from groups traditionally under-represented in economics, to pursue majors and graduate study in economics or related fields.

45 undergraduate students from 33 institutions participated in this year’s EDE Summer Institute, which ran from June 6-29, 2024, with two weeks of programming on the UChicago campus and a week of programming in Washington, DC, hosted by the Hutchins Center at Brookings.

The Chicago-based programming focused on microeconomic research and applied economic analysis, giving students a rare chance to participate in programs including technical skill building, daily course instruction from faculty, guest talks, and field trips. The cohort also completed a DC-based week, where they learned about the important role that economists play in making fiscal and monetary policy, both domestic and international. The 2024 cohort also completed a new mentorship program where they learned about the science of social capital.

EDE was launched by the Becker Friedman Institute (BFI) in 2021 and aims to increase diversity in economics through finding and supporting outstanding undergraduates who are interested in the field. Through EDE, BFI and the Hutchins Center are dedicated to fostering a new generation of academics and professionals who draw on the tools of economics to offer new perspectives and research ideas, and eventually make a positive impact in the world.

The EDE Summer Institute involves lectures and guest lectures by more than 20 UChicago faculty members, including Nobel Laureates and leaders in the field such as Ben Bernanke (Nobel Laureate and former Chair of the Federal Reserve), John List (author of the current bestseller, “The Voltage Effect”), and Cecilia Elena Rouse (President of The Brookings Institution).

EDE is made possible by the generous support of the Booth School of Business and the Kenneth Griffin Department of Economics at UChicago, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Northern Trust, Ariel Investments, JPM Chase, AQR, the Lumina Foundation, the Hutchins Center at Brookings, and the contributions of individual supporters.

View 2024 Cohort View 2024 Agenda View 2024 Photo Album