The European Association for Evolutionary Political Economy originates from a meeting at a conference in London, on 29 June 1988. The main purpose in forming the association was to promote evolutionary, dynamic and realistic approaches to economic theory and policy. Instead of the over-formalistic and often empty theorising of orthodox economics, the aim was to bring together the ideas of a number of theorists and theoretical traditions, and to help to develop a more realistic and adequate approach to theory and policy (see theoretical perspectives). EAEPE acknowledges the relevance and strongly supports research in the tradition of writers as diverse as John Commons, Nicholas Kaldor, Michael Kalecki, William Kapp, John Maynard Keynes, Alfred Marshall, Karl Marx, Gunnar Myrdal, Edith Penrose, Francois Perroux, Karl Polanyi, Joan Robinson, Joseph Schumpeter, Herbert Simon, Adam Smith, Thorstein Veblen and Max Weber to institutionalist and evolutionary thought. EAEPE's Honorary Presidents are leading scholars who have worked in this tradition. Their patronage to EAEPE is testimony to the association's leading role as a promoter of critical throught in the social sciences.

The formal founding meeting of the association was at its first annual conference in Keswick, Cumbria, UK on 19-22 September 1989. The EAEPE Constitution was adopted, leading to the election of a Steering Committee, which later changed into the EAEPE Council. The association published the first issue of its twice-yearly newsletter in January 1989.

In November 1990 the association formed a charity, the Foundation for European Economic Development (FEED). This is formally registered under the Charities Act (England and Wales) and helps with financial assistance for the EAEPE conference and other EAEPE projects.

The association runs three prizes: the Kapp Prize with the kind cooperation of the Kapp Foundation, the Myrdal Prize and the Herbert Simon Young Scholar Prize (see EAEPE Awards).

In 1991 EAEPE adopted a Scientific Development Plan for the Association. The Research Area Coordinators play a central role in EAEPE (see research areas).

In collaboration with Edward Elgar Publishing, EAEPE has produced a series of conference volumes and of volumes on specific topics, some of which have received very positive reviews in leading academic journals. EAEPE sponsors the Journal of Institutional Economics (JOIE). JOIE is devoted to the study of the nature, role and evolution of institutions in the economy, including firms, states, markets, money, households and other vital institutions and organizations. EAEPE members get this journal for free.

With a membership of around 500, EAEPE is now the foremost European association for heterodox economists and is the second-largest association for economists in Europe. The links of this web site give a good entry to other associations active in the domain of institutional and evolutionary economics.