The Institute of Economics and Social Sciences of Estonian University of Life Sciences is the successor of the Department of Economics founded in 1969.
By now the university’s Institute of Economics and Social Sciences has become an Estonian teaching and research centre dealing with issues related to rural economic development and rural social problems. This clearly differentiates the institute from the teaching and research establishments of other institutions of higher education dealing with economic and social issues.

The institute is responsible for high quality studies in accounting, financial management, economics, and entrepreneurship both at Bachelor’s as well as Master’s level.

The themes of the institute’s research work are varied but aligned to study the competitiveness and sustainability of Estonia’s rural economy and the issues concerning social development of rural areas.