F.I.E.L., the Foundation for Latin American Economic Research (Fundación de Investigaciones Económicas Latinoamericanas) is a private, independent, non-partisan and non-profit institution devoted to economic research, with particular regard to the economic problems of Argentina and Latin America. The Foundation was established in 1964 by the leading business institutions in Argentina, that is the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, the Argentine Chamber of Commerce, the Argentine Rural Association and the Argentine Manufacturing Association. Regular contributions come from the founding business entities and from approximately 160 private companies.
F.I.E.L.’s research efforts are concentrated in applied economics and includes the processing of economic surveys carried out by the Institution itself. The widespread circulation of F.I.E.L. studies seeks to contribute to the improvement of economic policy discussions in Argentina and provide an objective framework for decision making at macroeconomic and entrepreneurial levels. The Chairman and a thirty member Board of Directors, which includes the Presidents of the founding business organizations, provide the overall direction and close monitoring of the Foundation’s activities. In addition, a thirty member Advisory Board of prominent businessmen also contribute – together with the Board of Directors – to ensure that F.I.E.L.’s research efforts reflect the needs of a wide spectrum of the Argentina business community.
F.I.E.L. is associated with the ifo-Institute für Wirschaftsforschung in Munich, Germany, and belongs to the network of the correspondent institutes of CINDE (International Center for Economic Growth) based in Panama and San Francisco. The Foundation is also the permanent seat of the Secretariat of the Argentine Association of Political Economy, a full member of the International Economic Association.