The AEA has banned Larry Summers for life

On a statement released on social media, the American Economic Association has communicated that the association has banned Larry Summers for life:

As a reminder, on top of being regularly in contact with Jeffrey Epstein, a well-known sex offender, emails exchanged with Epstein showed that Larry Summers tried to use his scientific influence to extort sexual favours from a younger female economist.

My view is that it is very much welcome to see a man who breached the most foundational rules of professional conduct facing serious and actual consequences for his actions. Larry Summers has proved himself to be unfit to be around students and colleagues, and it is a good thing that the profession is acting on this fact.

Such a ban also seems to be very rare, if not unprecedented, which makes it, and the message it sends, even more powerful.

Here is the full statement released by the American Economic Association :

The American Economic Association (AEA) has accepted Lawrence H. Summers’ voluntary resignation from membership and, pursuant to the AEA’s Policies, Procedures, and Code of Professional Conduct, has imposed a lifetime ban on his membership. In addition, effective immediately, the AEA has imposed a lifetime prohibition on Mr. Summers’ attending, speaking at, or otherwise participating in AEA-sponsored events or activities, including serving in any editorial or refereeing capacity for AEA journals. The AEA condemns Mr. Summers’ conduct, as reflected in publicly reported communications, as fundamentally inconsistent with its standards of professional integrity and with the trust placed in mentors within the economics profession. Consistent with longstanding AEA practices and to protect the integrity and confidentiality of AEA processes, the AEA will not comment further on individual matters or the specific considerations underlying this determination.

The AEA is committed to upholding the highest standards of professional conduct and to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all members of the economics community. The AEA affirms its expectation that all members adhere to the AEA Code of Professional Conduct and the AEA Policy on Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation, and remains dedicated to maintaining professional environments in which economists of all backgrounds can participate fully, and with dignity and respect.