The Institute for Public Economics was formed in the fall of 1996 to promote research and teaching in public economics: the study of the public sector and its influence on the economy and society. The goal of the Institute is to enhance understanding of public policy issues by conducting and disseminating research results through publications, conferences and teaching.
The IPE is housed in the Department of Economics at the University of Alberta which contains Canada's largest group of active researchers in the field of public economics. Most IPE Fellows are members of the Department of Economics, but some Fellows are members of other universities, in government, or with international agencies.
Many IPE Fellows enjoy international reputations and regularly provide policy advice to municipal, provincial, and federal governments, as well as international agencies such as the IMF and the World Bank.