The Regional Science Association was organized in December 1954 at the annual meeting of the Allied Social Science Associations in Detroit, Michigan. The founder of the association was Walter Isard, who served as chairman in the formative years. In 1957 elections were held for the first time. The following is a list of persons who held the office of President, the term and the scholarly field of the president, generally defined as the field of their highest degree.
Presidents, Terms & Fields
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Hiroyuki Shibusawsa
2025-2026, Urban and
Regional Economic System
(VP2024)
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Hans Westlund
Sweden, 2023-2024, Urban and
Regional Studies
(VP 2022)
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Eduardo Haddad
Brazil, 2021-22, Economics
(VP 2020)
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Mark Partridge
USA, 2019-20, Economics
(VP 2018)
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Budy Resosudarmo
Indonesia/Australia, 2017-18,
Economics
(Jacques Poot, VP 2016)
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Andrés Rodríguez-Pose
Spain/UK, 2015-16, Geography
(VP 2014)
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Jean-Claude Thill
Belgium/USA, 2013-14, Public Policy
(VP, 2012)
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Yoshiro Higano
Japan, 2011-12, Environmental Science
(VP 2010)
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Roberta Capello
Italy, 2009-10,Regional Economics
(VP 2008)
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Roger R. Stough
USA, 2007-08, Geography and
Environmental Engineering
(VP 2006)
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Robert J. Stimson
Australia, 2005-06, Geography
(VP 2004)
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Antoine Bailly
France/Switzerland, 2003-04, Geography
(VP 2002)
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Geoffrey J.D. Hewings
UK/ USA, 2001-02, Geography
(VP 2000)
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Hirotada Kohno
Japan, 1999-00, Economics
(VP 1998)
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Peter Batey
UK, 1997-98, Regional Planning
(VP 1996)
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Kingsley E. Haynes
USA, 1995-96, Geography
(VP 1994)
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Lay Gibson
USA, 1993-94, Geography
(VP 1992)
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Peter Nijkamp
Netherlands, 1991-92, Economics
(VP 1990)
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In 1989, the Regional Science Association was reorganized as the Regional Science Association International. Beginning in 1991, Presidents serve two-year terms.
| Rodney C. Jensen, Australia, 1989-90, Economics |
| Rolf Funck, Germany, 1988-89, Economics |
| Noboru Sakashita, Japan, 1987-88, Economics |
| David Boyce, USA, 1986-87, Regional Science |
| Lloyd Rodwin, USA, 1985-86, Regional Planning |
| Ake Andersson, Sweden, 1984-85, Economics |
| Allan Pred, USA, 1983-84, Geography |
| Barclay G. Jones, USA, 1982-83, Economics |
| Ryszard Domanski, Poland, 1981-82, Geography |
| Jean Paelinck, Netherlands ,1980-81, Economics |
| Martin J. Beckmann, USA, Germany, 1979-80, Economics |
| William Alonso, USA, 1978-79, Regional Science |
| Per Holm, Sweden, 1977-78, City Planning |
| Leo H. Klaassen, Netherlands, 1976-77, Economics |
| Morgan D. Thomas, USA, 1975-76, Geography |
| Stan Czamanski, USA and Israel, 1975-76, Regional Science |
| Genpachiro Konno, Japan, 1974-75, Economics |
| Leon N. Moses, USA, 1972-73, Economics |
| Kazimierz Dziewoński, Poland, 1971-72, Geography |
| Gerald A. P. Carrothers, Canada, 1970-71, Regional Planning and Economics |
| Benjamin Chinitz, USA, 1969-70, Economics |
| Torsten Hägerstrand, Sweden, 1968-69, Geography |
| Benjamin H. Stevens, USA 1967-68, Regional Planning and Economics |
| Britton Harris, USA, 1966-67, City Planning |
| William Warntz, USA, 1965-66, Geography |
| Charles L. Leven, USA, 1964-65, Economics |
| William L. C. Wheaton, USA, 1963-64, Political Science |
| William L. Garrison, USA, 1962-63, Geography |
| Edgar M. Hoover, USA, 1961-62, Economics |
| Edward L. Ullman, USA, 1960-61, Geography |
| Robert B. Mitchell, USA, 1959-60, City Planning |
| Walter Isard, USA, 1958-59, Economics |
| Walter Isard, USA, 1957-58, Economics |