The objective of the Center for International Economics and Development is to foster basic research on international economics and development. Current faculty fellows are drawn from both the Economics department and the Kellogg School of Management. The center organizes regular conferences and invites distinguished scholars to give lectures at Northwestern University. In addition, the center organizes a week-long Advanced Workshop for Central Bankers. To date participants from 28 central banks have attended the workshop. The center supports the research of faculty fellows and grants fellowships to students working in international and development topics.

The co-directors of the Center are Martin Eichenbaum and Sergio Rebelo.