Omicron Delta Epsilon ( or ODE) is an international honor society in the field of economics, formed from the merger of Omicron Delta Gamma and Omicron Chi Epsilon in 1963. ODE is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies. ODE has chartered more than 700 chapters worldwide. It publishes an academic journal The American Economist.

History

Predecessors

The first national honor society in economics, Omicron Delta Gamma, was formed on May 7, 1915, by the merger of Harvard University's Undergraduate Society of Economics with the University of Wisconsin's Order of Artus. Wisconsin's group was founded by Professor John R. Commons. Professor Frank W. Taussig founded the chapter at Harvard.

Alan A. Brown was the founder and first president of Omicron Chi Epsilon in 1955, while a student at City College of New York. Omicron Delta Gamma had strength in the Midwest and West, while Omicron Chi Epsilon had strength on the Eastern Seaboard and Texas. At the time of their merger, each had 28 active chapters.<!-- Baird's 1963 says 29 for Order of Artus, 28 for OXE, overlap was one:NYU. ODG 1952, OXE 1960-->

Omicron Delta Epsilon's purpose is to recognize academic achievement in economics and to increase connections between students and faculty of economics within and amongst colleges and university. Omicron Delta Epsilon joined the Association of College Honor Societies in 1965, had its membership lapse in 1973 and was readmitted in 1981. By 2012, the society had 672 active chapters, 4,440 active members, and 89,500 initiates. A detailed history of ODE, written by the executive secretary-treasurer of the organization, William D. Gunther, was published in 2013 by The American Economist.

Omicron Delta Epsilon's national headquarters is located in Fairhope, Alabama. It is a member of the Allied Social Science Associations.

Symbols

The membership badge of Omicron Delta Epsilon is gold key, bearing the society's Greek letters, arranged diagonally. The society banner stands vertically, is blue in color, and contains its emblem like the membership pin. Members may wear royal blue and gold honor cords at graduation.

Membership

New members consist of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as college and university faculty. Undergraduate members must have completed at least twelve hours of economics, with a B average in economics and overall, and rank in the upper third of their class. Conventions are held in conjunction with the annual convention of the American Economics Association, of which ODE is an institutional member. ODE sponsors student and faculty paper presentations held in conjunction with this annual convention. It sponsors professional meetings and presents annual research awards, particularly the Frank W. Taussig Undergraduate Article Award.

Chapters

As of 2024, Omicron Delta Epsilon Society has chartered 727 chapters in Australia, Canada, Egypt, France, Kazakhstan, Mexico, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Notable members

The following are some of the notable members of Omicron Delta Epsilon.

  • Scott Bales – former Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
  • Thomas Borcherding – professor of economics at Claremont Graduate University
  • Alan A. Brown – professor of economics and founder of Omicron Chi Epsilon and Omicron Delta Epsilon