Founded in 1930, the Econometric Society is the globally most significant society in economic science. Its aim is to promote the integration of theoretical and empirical quantitative approaches to economic problems. The Society also publishes the leading journal Econometrica. Every year, a handful of scientists is elected as new Fellows. These are then a Fellow for life. Among the approximately 450 active Fellows, only two more are based in the Netherlands (Eric van Damme in Tilburg and TI Fellow Peter Wakker in Rotterdam).
Van den Berg’s major contributions to the advancement of econometrics and labor economics proved to be decisive for his election. These concern in particular his studies on unemployment durations, job mobility, and the economic determinants of human longevity.
“It is a great honor for me to have been elected Fellow,” said Van den Berg. “The current Fellows who made this decision constitute a group of highly accomplished and renowned scholars.” He added: “I hope that this result will further enhance the high reputation of the Dutch econometric tradition which develops methodological innovations in tune with advances in theory, data analysis and policy relevance.”
Gerard J. van den Berg (1962) is Alexander von Humboldt Professor in Econometrics and Empirical Economics at the University of Mannheim in Germany and affiliated at the VU Amsterdam.