“Follow the science”

To attend the 2023 ASSA Annual Meeting, all registrants will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to have received at least one booster. High-quality masks (i.e., KN-95 or better) will be required in all indoor conference spaces. These requirements are planned for the well-being of all participants.

That is from the AEA.  Really!!??

Even the Arlington County Public Library is doing better than that.  Did someone do a cost-benefit analysis?  If so, may I see it?  And if this is optimal, why are no private American businesses following suit?  (Can you name one, outside of some health care settings?)  How far do you have to go to find an institution, profit or non-profit, doing the same?

How about allowing a members’ vote on this?  Or should I just be happy that the AEA is making itself irrelevant at such a rapid pace?  It is remarkable the speed at which the economics profession isn’t really about economics any more.

For the pointer here I thank MS.