The Center's objective is to advance understanding of firms and markets by supporting scientific research on these subjects, especially research employing state-of-the-art analytical and/or empirical methods to address substantive questions and intended to be published in top tier academic journals. Topics include, but are not limited to, industrial organization, business strategy, game theory and applications such as organization and incentive design, pricing and industry evolution. Research at the interface of economics and strategy is of particular interest, but economics-based research in any area is welcome.

The Center will support: (1) seminar series in which both internal and external research are presented; (2) short term visitor's programs in which researchers from other domestic or international institutions spend short periods (e.g., one week) at Olin; (3) conferences; (4) research assistance, including Ph.D. student funding, or data collection beyond what would normally be funded by faculty research resources; (5) interaction between the faculty and MBA/BSBA students by, e.g., naming top-performing students CRES Fellows and supporting their assisting, or in some way participating in, with faculty research projects; and (6) dissemination of research through a center web site. (1)-(6) is not an exhaustive list. Innovative ways to promote high quality research are encouraged.

The Center specifically encourages groups of faculty to develop theme-based projects spanning one or two years and encompassing elements of (1)-(6). For example, a group of faculty could explore a topic from several angles, or several related topics; invite a collection of seminar speakers currently working on these topics; host several short term visitors; and conclude with a conference. These activities would be intended to support the faculty authoring a number of high quality research papers.

Glenn MacDonald
Olin Business School
Washington University
www.olin.wustl.edu/faculty/macdonald