JBE/JSE - the first 30 years. (Editorial).

This is the last issue of the JOURNAL OF SOCIO-ECONOMICS of my 30-year tenure as founder-publisher-editor. In 2002 the JSE begins the "Altman Era". In fairness to Morris it should be noted that more than one-half of the issues in his first year as editor will consist of articles accepted by me. So we'll have to wait until 2003 to see issues that fully reflect his leadership.

Because this issue marks the passing of an era, the new owner, Elsevier Science, suggested that I prepare a brief history of the JSE. The brief report, which follows, honors that request. In addition, a separate note in this issue gives a second historical perspective prepared by Roger Frantz.

This journal began life in 1971 as a publication of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Western Illinois University. I served as director of the Center and decided to substitute a scholarly journal for the usual business research center review. The new journal was called THE JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS. The vision was to encourage interdisciplinary research which brought economics together with the other social sciences and the applied business disciplines. I served as editor and publisher for the first issue. Then I continued as publisher but hired management professor Fred Fry to serve as editor. When Fred left WIU for a new job at Bradley …