John Bates Clark Medal

economics award

Also known as: JBC Medal

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July 21, 2026

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The John Bates Clark Medal is an economics award established in 1947 by the American Economic Association. It is awarded annually to a U.S.-based economist under the age of 40 who has made outstanding contributions to economic thought. The medal is named after John Bates Clark, an American economist known for his theory of marginal productivity, which explained how income is distributed among the factors of production. He was also a founder of the American Economic Association, advocating for a shift away from laissez-faire policies. The award is considered by many to be a precursor to the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.1

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John Bates Clark
…1947 the AEA established the John Bates Clark Medal, which is awarded annually (biennially until 2009) to a U.S.-based economist under the age of 40 for outstanding contributions to economic thought.
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…1947 the AEA established the John Bates Clark Medal, which is awarded annually (biennially until 2009) to a U.S.-based economist under the age of 40 for outstanding contributions to economic thought.
Read More