Energy and Growth: Beyond the Myths and Myopia

This annual international conference of the IAEE, being the tenth of a series, assumes special significance. It presents, therefore, a good opportunity to introspect on how these conferences, which receive increasing attention every year (as indeed does the Association of which this is the major annual meeting), have really fared in addressing the challenges confronting the energy economics profession. This is an association whose interests span perhaps a wider range of activities than other economics associations, particularly those dealing with other sec-toral subjects. Our resources and strengths place us in a unique position to make contributions far beyond the range of most professional organi-zations. Not only has this association in its fold several luminaries drawn from the economics profession, but we are also uniquely endowed with a range of other disciplines and skills which supplement and support the economics profession. We have leaders of business, physical scientists, engineers, lawyers, politicians and others drawn from diverse field of learning and knowledge. It is indeed laudable and heartening that we have in this conference for the first time representation from the Soviet Union. I hope their participation marks the beginning of a rela-tionship that will grow in the years to come, and culminate very soon in the organization of an annual international meeting in the USSR. At this juncture, therefore, it would not be out of place to ask ourselves whether our collective attention and energy has been directed at illumi-Presidential address.