The ARC Research Network for Economic Design (the Economic Design Network, or EDN) is a research Network resourced and funded for five years by the Australian Research Council (ARC), and by its participating institutions.

The goals of the Network are as follows:

• To facilitate the design of better public policies for Australia and to deliver innovative policy tools into the hands of policy makers;
• To expand the frontiers of Economic Design by linking innovative researchers, research centres, and policy makers;
• Train a new generation of reserchers and policy makers in the frontier knowledge of Economic Design;
• To create new research capacity in Economic Design, especially in the Economic Theory and Experimental Economics.

The Network is composed of Participating Institutions and Individual Members. Amongst the Participating Institutions, particular roles are played by the Administering Institution and the Contributing Institutions.

The Administering Institution (The University of Melbourne) is responsible to the ARC for setting up and operating the Network. Relations with the ARC are governed by the Funding Agreement between the ARC and the Administering Institution.

The Contributing Institutions are parties to the original agreement to set up the Network. These institutions have agreed to participate in and contribute to the Network by providing cash or in kind contributions. This agreement is governed by the Network Agreement between the Administering and the Contributing Organisations. There is provision for institutions to join the Network as Contributing Institutions, subject to ARC approval.

The other Participating Institutions are institutions or centres who have agreed to participate in the Network. In some cases they will be contributing in kind resources to the Network. The basis for their participation in the network will be set out through an exchange of letters with the Administering Institution.

Individual Members of the Network need not be members of a Participating Institution. The Administering Institution is required to maintain a register of members.

The Network will be administered by the Network Convener, appointed by the ARC at the Administering Institution. The Network Convener is responsible to the ARC for administering the Network in a manner that is consistent with the Funding Agreement and the Network Agreement. Any change of Network Convener must be approved by the ARC, and requires consultation with the Contributing Institutions.

The Network will be governed by a Board consisting of

• the Network Convener, who will chair the Board
• One representative from each Contributing Institution; the representative should be a Network member, elected by Network members at the Institution
• Two representatives elected by members not at one of these institutions
• One representative elected by early career researchers in the network
• The board may coopt up to two additional members who are policy professionals not associated with a University

Day to day management will be the responsibility of an Executive consisting of the Network Convener and two other Board members, nominated by the Board. One of these will act as Treasurer, the other as Secretary.

The Board and the Executive will attempt to reach consensus on any matter, but in the event that a consensus is not clear may make decisions by a simple majority of those present. In the event of a tied vote, the proposal will be defeated. The Board must meet, either in person or electronically, at least once per year. The Executive must meet, either in person or electronically, at least four times per year. Board meetings will require a quorum of 5 members. Executive meetings will require a quorum of two members.

The Board will appoint from within the Network an Advisory Panel of sub-discipline experts in appropriate fields. The majority of members of this panel will, as far as possible, be junior researchers. The function of the panel is to foster the growth of sub-disciplines within the Network.

Members of the Board, Executive and Advisory Panel will serve for a term of one year, and may be re-appointed. Please click here to read the Obligations of the Board Members.

The Network will fund activities that are consistent with its objectives. These activities may include

• conferences and workshops
• summer schools, winter school and research workshops
• visitor programs
• professional training programs
• scholarships
• student exchanges
• policy forums and round tables
• support for the development of experimental economics.

The Network will not normally provide direct support for research projects as such. Funding proposals may be submitted to the Network Manager using the form available to EDN members on the EDN website. Proposals of upto $10,000 may be approved by the Network Convener; proposals of upto $40,000 may be approved by the Network Executive; all other proposals must be approved by the EDN Board. The EDN Board must be notified of all approved funding proposals and the proposal documentation must be available to Board members online. Full reports must be made on all funded activities, using the form available to EDN members on the EDN website. All funded proposals must comply with the requirements of the ARC Network Funding Agreement.