It is indeed something directed at grad students that I have in 
mind--with a sales price of about $10 to make it easily affordable. 
(Print costs of these books are only about 2.50 a copy depending on 
print run, so it could be done.)  The essays would also be available 
on the web. The difference between these and the Irwin series is that 
the books I am suggesting would only contain overviews of the 
literature written by 2 or 3 specialists.  All the actual articles 
that are referred to would be on the web, and would be made available 
by links.

The JEL, back in Mark Perlman's day (not surprisingly) used to have 
articles like that, but it has moved away from doing these literature 
surveys. Thus, I believe there is a demand and need for it.

It was a discussion of the Elgar volumes that led to the proposal. 
One of the authors (editors) only discovered at the end what Elgar 
was charging, and he lamented about all the work he had put in, but 
few will use it.  Libraries have significantly decreased their book 
purchases.

While the AEA will not give it its imprimatur, I suspect that the 
Committee of Economic Education (CEE) of the AEA might give it its 
support and the project could be done jointly with the HES and the 
CEE.  That would be my suggestion at least.

David Colander