Articles in economics journals are usually classified according to JEL classification codes, which derive from the Journal of Economic Literature. The JEL is published quarterly by the American Economic Association (AEA) and contains survey articles and information on recently published books and dissertations. The AEA maintains EconLit, a searchable data base of citations for articles, books, reviews, dissertations, and working papers classified by JEL codes for the years from 1969. A recent addition to EconLit is indexing of economics journal articles from 1886 to 1968 parallel to the print series Index of Economic Articles.

Structure

There are 26 primary JEL categories: Each JEL primary category has secondary and tertiary subcategories, for example, under JEL: D – Microeconomics: JEL code (sub)categories, including periodic updates, are referenced at Journal of Economic Literature (JEL) Classification System. Links to definitions of (sub)categories are at JEL Classification Codes Guide with corresponding examples of article titles linked to publication information, such as abstracts.

Purpose

Articles in economics journals also list JEL codes (for example JEL: B12), facilitating their use across search engines. Comprehensive uses of JEL (sub)classifications include:

JEL categories

A. General Economics and Teaching

A1 General Economics A2 Economic Education and Teaching of Economics A3 Collective Works

B. History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches

B1 History of Economic Thought through 1925 B2 History of Economic Thought since 1925 B3 History of Economic Thought: Individuals B4 Economic Methodology B5 Current Heterodox Approaches

C. Mathematical and Quantitative Methods

C1 Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General C2 Single Equation Models • Single Variables C3 Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models • Multiple Variables C4 Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics C5 Econometric Modeling C6 Mathematical Methods • Programming Models • Mathematical and Simulation Modeling C7 Game Theory and Bargaining Theory C8 Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology • Computer Programs C9 Design of Experiments

D. Microeconomics

D1 Household Behavior and Family Economics D2 Production and Organizations D3 Distribution D4 Market Structure, Pricing, and Design D5 General Equilibrium and Disequilibrium D6 Welfare Economics D7 Analysis of Collective Decision-Making D8 Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty D9 Micro-Based Behavioral Economics

E. Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics

E1 General Aggregative Models E2 Consumption, Saving, Production, Investment, Labor Markets, and Informal Economy E3 Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles E4 Money and Interest Rates E5 Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit E6 Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook

F. International Economics

F1 Trade F2 International Factor Movements and International Business F3 International Finance F4 Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance F5 International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy F6 Economic Impacts of Globalization

G. Financial Economics

G1 General Financial Markets G2 Financial Institutions and Services G3 Corporate Finance and Governance

H. Public Economics

H1 Structure and Scope of Government H2 Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue H3 Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents H4 Publicly Provided Goods H5 National Government Expenditures and Related Policies H6 National Budget, Deficit, and Debt H7 State and Local Government • Intergovernmental Relations H8 Miscellaneous Issues

I. Health, Education, and Welfare

I1 Health I2 Education and Research Institutions I3 Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty

J. Labor and Demographic Economics

J1 Demographic Economics J2 Demand and Supply of Labor J3 Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs J4 Particular Labor Markets J5 Labor–Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining J6 Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers J7 Labor Discrimination J8 Labor Standards: National and International

K. Law and Economics

K1 Basic Areas of Law K2 Regulation and Business Law K3 Other Substantive Areas of Law K4 Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior

L. Industrial Organization

L1 Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance L2 Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior L3 Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise L4 Antitrust Issues and Policies L5 Regulation and Industrial Policy L6 Industry Studies: Manufacturing L7 Industry Studies: Primary Products and Construction L8 Industry Studies: Services L9 Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities

M. Business Administration and Business Economics • Marketing • Accounting • Personnel Economics

M1 Business Administration M2 Business Economics M3 Marketing and Advertising M4 Accounting and Auditing M5 Personnel Economics

N. Economic History

N1 Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics • Industrial Structure • Growth • Fluctuations N2 Financial Markets and Institutions N3 Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy N4 Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation N5 Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries N6 Manufacturing and Construction N7 Transport, Trade, Energy, Technology, and Other Services N8 Micro-Business History N9 Regional and Urban History

O. Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth

O1 Economic Development O2 Development Planning and Policy O3 Innovation • Research and Development • Technological Change • Intellectual Property Rights O4 Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity O5 Economywide Country Studies

P. Economic Systems

P1 Capitalist Systems P2 Socialist Systems and Transitional Economies P3 Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions P4 Other Economic Systems P5 Comparative Economic Systems

Q. Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics • Environmental and Ecological Economics

Q1 Agriculture Q2 Renewable Resources and Conservation Q3 Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation Q4 Energy Q5 Environmental Economics

R. Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics

R1 General Regional Economics R2 Household Analysis R3 Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location R4 Transportation Economics R5 Regional Government Analysis

Y. Miscellaneous Categories

Y1 Data: Tables and Charts Y2 Introductory Material Y3 Book Reviews (unclassified) Y4 Dissertations (unclassified) Y5 Further Reading (unclassified) Y6 Excerpts Y7 No Author General Discussions Y8 Related Disciplines Y9 Other

Z. Other Special Topics

Z1 Cultural Economics • Economic Sociology • Economic Anthropology Z2 Sports Economics Z3 Tourism Economics