Universitat de Barcelona

The Barcelona Economics Institute (IEB) is a research centre in Applied Economics at the University of Barcelona which aims to promote the development and dissemination of economic research and to influence economic policy decisions. The studies carried out by its members focus on the fields of fiscal federalism, regional economics and public economics. The IEB organizes three research programs: Fiscal Federalism, Cities and Innovation, and Transport and Infrastructures. IEB members also conduct economic studies commissioned by other institutions on issues in which they are specialists, providing expert guidance on economic policy.

Created in 2001, and recognized by the Catalan government and the University of Barcelona, the IEB received a major boost in 2008 with the establishment of the IEB Foundation (of which La Caixa, CatalunyaCaixa, Gas Natural Group, Abertis and Applus are partners) and the creation of the UB Chair in Fiscal Federalism (with the cooperation of the ICO Foundation, the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Institute of Autonomous Studies). In 2011, the city and provincial councils of Barcelona have joined the board of the Foundation.