JEL Classification Codes Guide
The guide provides JEL Code application guidelines, keywords, and examples of items within each classification.
The "JEL" classification system originated with the Journal of Economic Literature and is a standard method of classifying scholarly literature in the field of economics. It is used in many of the AEA's published research materials.
Use the guide to gain insight on how JEL Codes are used to classify articles, dissertations, books, book reviews, and working papers. You will also find it is helpful when adding classification codes to your own work.
Click here for printer-friendly formats of the JEL Classification System.
| A General Economics and Teaching |
| B History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches |
| C Mathematical and Quantitative Methods |
| D Microeconomics |
| E Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics |
| F International Economics |
| G Financial Economics |
| H Public Economics |
| I Health, Education, and Welfare |
| J Labor and Demographic Economics |
| K Law and Economics |
| L Industrial Organization |
| M Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics |
| N Economic History |
| O Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth |
| P Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems |
| Q Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics |
| R Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics |
| Y Miscellaneous Categories |
| Z Other Special Topics |
| L | Industrial Organization |
| Guideline: | There are many subcategories in microeconomics that are closely related to those in L (Industrial Organization). In particular, the D2 and L2 categories and the D4 and L1 categories deal with the same or similar subjects. An operational distinction adopted is that studies emphasizing abstract analysis (which can be empirical) should be classified under the appropriate categories in D while those emphasizing operational sides (application and applicability) should be classified under the appropriate categories in L. Since such a distinction is not always possible, many studies should be cross-classified under both categories. Studies in industrial organization pertaining to economic development should be cross-classified under appropriate categories in L and under O12 or O14 or other appropriate categories in O. Those studies pertaining to socialist and transitional economies or other economic systems should be cross-classified under appropriate categories in L and P2, P3, or P4. Studies at the urban-regional level should be cross-classified under appropriate categories in L and R |
| Keywords: | |
| L00 | General |
| L000 | Industrial Organization: General |
| Guideline: | Covers studies about general issues related to industrial organization, including survey articles and textbooks. |