Alan W. Heston Fellowship

Alan W. Heston Fellowship

The Alan W. Heston Fellowship seeks to inspire and empower emerging scholars and practitioners to advance the field of economic measurement, with a particular focus on international comparisons of prices, real incomes, purchasing power parity (PPP) methods, and the data that underpins cross-country comparisons.

We invite you to honor the enduring legacy of Professor Alan W. Heston by supporting and cultivating the next generation of leaders in international economic statistics.

The fellowship honors Alan W. Heston (October 18, 1934 – October 25, 2024), who—together with Irving Kravis and Robert Summers—helped establish the International Comparison Program (ICP). The project aimed to establish a regular series of purchasing power parity (PPP)-based comparisons of gross domestic product (GDP). Today, PPPs are widely recognized and extensively used in socioeconomic analysis to adjust for differences in price levels between economies and to equalize the purchasing power of currencies. Their primary purpose is to convert GDP and its components into a common currency, ensuring comparability by explicitly accounting for price level differences.

Professor Heston, along with his colleagues, established a sound methodological foundation and an organizational and implementation framework for the ICP in the early years. His captivating 2017 memoir details the progress and expansion of the Program, as well as the challenges faced and successes celebrated by Professor Heston and his colleagues over successive ICP cycles. He served as Chair of the Program’s Technical Advisory Group for the ICP 2005 cycle and remained an active member of this Group and various research Task Forces through to the completion of the most recent 2021 cycle. His memoir also relates the origins of the Penn World Table which, together with the ICP, has become an indispensable resource for economists, policy makers, and researchers worldwide.

Carrying Forward Legacy

In his memoir, Professor Heston shared that the most gratifying part of the ICP was witnessing a new generation of statisticians and researchers embrace the work with interest and enthusiasm. To honor his legacy, the Alan W. Heston Fellowship has been established to support, inspire, and provide opportunities for future generations of researchers in the field of economic statistics. 

Eligibility and Criteria

Applicants must be either:

1.      Early-career researchers within 5 years after PhD completion, including post-doctoral fellows, assistant professors, and candidates currently in the PhD job market. We welcome applications from those in economics, economic statistics, policy studies, or related fields, OR

2.      Statisticians working at national or regional statistical organizations conducting research to advance statistical practices.

Preferred qualifications include prior experience in related research fields and a focus on applying findings to improve national or regional statistical systems.

Application package: 

Interested applicants should submit:

1.      CV/Resume

2.      Cover letter outlining research interests and alignment with the fellowship’s goals (Maximum 500 words)

3.      Project proposal, including: Objectives, Proposed Methodology, Expected impact, Timeline, Budget table, and Deliverables (Maximum 1,500 words without Annex)

4.      Pre-approval letter (or equivalent documentation) confirming eligibility to receive the fellowship, if currently employed by a government agency

5.      Two reference contacts (name, institution, job title, and email)

How to Submit

Complete your application and upload all supporting materials through the online submission portal. 

Timeline

• Applications open: March 1, 2026. 
• Applications close: March 29, 2026. 
• Short-list announced:  April 13, 2026. 
• Final decision: May 15, 2026.