Ready to explore a place dedicated to understanding the world’s financial heartbeat? That’s precisely what the Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas offers. It is a vital part of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México UNAM.
The Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas or IIEc focuses on researching economic issues. Its scope includes both Mexico and the world. Jesús Silva Herzog founded the IIEc in November 1940. He was then the director of UNAM’s Escuela Nacional de Economía. The IIEc began within the Escuela. It had two departments: Laboratorios and Investigaciones. These provided spaces for economics students. Students could gain practical experience and do research. This supplemented their academic studies.
For 27 years, the IIEc formally belonged to the Escuela Nacional de Economía. Its members contributed significantly to the Escuela’s work especially in teaching. In September 1967 several researchers requested autonomy for the IIEc. The University Council approved the separation from the Escuela Nacional de Economía. February 1968 marked the start of the IIEc’s independent existence. Its main goal became theoretical and applied research. The focus was primarily on Mexico’s socioeconomic development. Fernando Carmona de la Peña became the first director that same month.
Initially the Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas was located in the Centro de Cálculo Electrónico de la UNAM. It moved to the Torre II de Humanidades in 1977. It occupied floors 1 2 3 and 5. In 2007 the IIEc moved to its own building. This building is in the Ciudad de la Investigación en Humanidades. It is in the southern part of Ciudad Universitaria.
The Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas takes a critical perspective in its research. It seeks economic development that benefits disadvantaged social sectors. It contributes to theoretical and empirical analysis. This covers local national and global economic problems.
Since 2022 the IIEc organizes its work into 18 research units. These units cover diverse areas like development and public policies. They also delve into the economics of education energy labor and the environment. Other units focus on fiscal and financial economics.
The IIEc also houses several work units. These include the Coordinación de Análisis Macroeconométrico Prospectivo CAMP. Another is the Observatorio Económico Latinoamericano OBELA. They also have the Observatorio Latinoamericano de Geopolítica OLAG.
The IIEc publishes several periodicals. Problemas del Desarrollo Revista Latinoamericana de Economía is one. Boletín Momento Económico and Boletín Coyuntura Económica are others.
The Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas participates in postgraduate programs. These programs are in economics Latin American studies and sustainability sciences. The IIEc hosts courses for UNAM’s Programa de Posgrado en Economía.
The IIEc grants several awards. One is the Premio Anual de Investigación Económica Maestro Jesús Silva Herzog. Another is the Premio Anual Dr. Ernest Feder. They also present the Premio Internacional de Investigación en Desarrollo Económico Juan F. Noyola. Additionally there is the Reconocimiento Maestro José Luis Ceceña Gámez. The Cátedra Ricardo Torres Gaitán facilitates collaboration with distinguished scholars.