Atlanta tops in experimental research
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

AYSPS economics faculty Susan Laury, Ragan Petrie and Paul Ferraro brought a dozen Atlanta-based experimental economics and related behavioral researchers together for a “get-to-know-you” seminar at the new Andrew Young School headquarters in October. This event was the first of an annual series of meetings that will help build a “brand” image of Atlanta as a hotbed of experimental activity.

"Our idea," says Ferraro, "was to bring our local research community together to benefit from the critical mass of experimental research that is being conducted at Georgia State University, Emory, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State and other local colleges and universities. There is a lot of this work going on in Atlanta, and we all benefit from knowing more about each other's research.

"Georgia State has one of the only experimental programs in a policy school in the world," he continues. "The number of our faculty members working on experiments is unmatched among such schools. Georgia State University also has the best lab in the South and one of the best in the nation, as well as a diverse subject pool sought by experimental researchers."

Ferraro, Laury and Petrie have found the Atlanta experimental community eager to hook up with others doing this kind of work. The group has planned another gathering next summer. "Together we are uniquely positioned to broaden the base of knowledge of 'behavioral economics',” says Ferraro. "We expect that through this joint effort we can raise the reputation of Atlanta's strengths in experimental economics to join those of Los Angeles and the Boston/Cambridge area as hotbeds for this activity."