Dear NBER Researchers and Staff Colleagues -
The logistical runway for the 2020 Summer Institute spans several
months. While I sincerely hope that by early July, the number of
COVID-19 cases will be low, and that many of the current social
distancing requirements will have been lifted, there is a significant
chance that this will not be the case and that it will be very difficult
to host a conference with high levels of interpersonal contact in
crowded spaces. In light of this situation, I have reluctantly concluded
that shifting to a "virtual 2020 Summer Institute" is the best course of
action.We will all miss the in-person networking and fellowship that the
Summer Institute permits, but health and well-being considerations must
take precedence.
I will be working with conference organizers and NBER staff members
in the coming weeks to plan the details for a set of virtual meetings,
and in particular to identify ways to promote interaction without an
in-person gathering. I expect that most meetings will occur on their
initially-planned dates, although some may be cancelled, and the daily
schedule for those that do take place may be somewhat different than in
past years. Meeting agendas will be posted as they become available at
http://conference.nber.org/confer/2020/SI2020/SI2020.html and will be
finalized by early June.
I know that collectively we will be able to make this year's Summer
Institute a great success. All best wishes for staying safe and healthy
during this extraordinary time.
Jim Poterba
Received on Fri Apr 10 2020 - 14:23:31 EDT
