ECON MATTERS

Department of , Dalhousie University Volume 24, March 2014

Department Happenings T. Lemieux and S. Firpo)” on February 22, 2013. uan Xu has been appointed to a three-year term as Chairperson Dozie Okoye (PhD candidate), University of Kof the Department effective July Western Ontario and Weina Zhou (PhD 1, 2013. He succeeds who candidate), University of British Columbia, completed his second 3-year term at the joined the Department of Economics as end of June. We thank Lars sincerely for Assistant Professors in July 2013. his strong leadership and great service over the last six years. We wish Kuan Mel Cross represented Simon Fraser great success in his new position as University at Dr. Richard Florizone’s Chairperson. Installation Ceremony as 11th President and Vice-Chancellor of Dalhousie The Department hosted a reception for University on October 4, 2013. The Lars Osberg to recognize his service as occasion included the awarding of Chairperson. The reception was held at honorary doctorates to several leading the University Club on Thursday, June 27. university presidents from around the world. The presidents also took part in a panel discussion on the future of In this issue... universities.

Department Happenings...... 1 News from MED ...... 3 Mel Cross was awarded a Lifetime Project News ...... 3 Membership in the Atlantic Student News ...... 5 Environmental Economics Field Trip ...... 7 Economics Association at its 40th Annual Alumni Update...... 8 Conference of the Atlantic Canada Economics Association, Saint Mary's The 21st Annual John F. Graham Memorial University, Halifax, NS, October 19-20, Lecture was held on February 21,2013. 2013. This year’s lecturer was Nicole Fortin, Professor of Economics at the University Tess Cyrus has been awarded a grant for of British Columbia. Dr. Fortin’s talk was the project Course Re-designs for the entitled “Leaving Boys Behind: Gender Online Environment to Support Student Disparities in High Academic Retention and Academic Excellence from Achievement.” A reception followed. Dr. Dalhousie University's academic initiatives Fortin also presented “Occupational Tasks funding in 2013. This project helps the and Changes in the Wage Structure (with development of the online versions of 2 Volume 24, March 2014

Principles of Microeconomics and 2013. Principles of Macroeconomics (ECON 1101 & 1102). Lars Osberg has been awarded the 2014 John Kenneth Galbraith Prize from the Ian McAllister was guest speaker at the Progressive Economics Forum (PEF). He European Union Centre of Excellence’s will deliver the Galbraith Lecture at the Lunch and Learn on October 31st. Ian Canadian Economics Association 2014 spoke on Some past European Union (EU) Meetings at Simon Fraser University. regional development challenges from a Canadian comparative perspective. The Mevlude Akbulut, Mutlu Yuksel, and talk covered reflections on the earlier Melanie Khamis (Wesleyan University) phases of regional development priorities, were awarded the W.E. Upjohn Institute policies and practices in the EU and Early Career Research Grant for their Canada. Similarities, contrasts and project, “Family Policies and Female Labor potential opportunities for future Market Outcomes From Social Security cooperation. Records.”

Lars Osberg presented “What’s So Bad On March 11, 2014, Talan Iscan About More Inequality” at the Center for participated in the Nova Scotia Budget: Wealth and Inequality Workshop, Economic Forecast Challenge and Review. Columbia University, New York, October These discussions are preliminary to the 3, 2013; Social Policy Research Centre, 2014-15 NS Budget and the session is an University of New South Wales, Sydney important event where economists from Australia, November 11, 2013 and Nova Scotia work together to chart a path Keynote Address to Academy of the for a stronger Nova Scotian economy. Social Sciences in Australia-2013 Annual Symposium “Levelling the Spirit: In March 2014, Courtney Ward was Addressing the Social Impacts of interviewed by CTV about a new vaccine Economic Inequality,” Canberra, study. Dr. Ward’s recent paper, published Australia, November 12, 2013. in the AEJ: Applied, looks at the effects of expanding vaccination recommendations, Shelley Phipps is currently serving as finding that increased coverage across the Vice-President of the Canadian Economics entire population means that the infection Association (CEA). The CEA is the rate can fall by as much as 92 percent. organization of academic economists in Canada and has around 1500 members Andrea Giusto and Yulia Kotlyarova are across the country and from abroad. The recipients of the Department of Economics CEA publishes the Canadian Journal of Award for Excellence in Teaching for the Economics and organizes an annual Academic Year 2013-14. conference. The Canadian Public Policy journal is also affiliated with the CEA. SPHERE (Social Policy Health and Research Unit) hosted the following seminars in the Weina Zhou presented “The Long-Term fall: “Aggregating savings and public Impact of the Send-Down Program provision of health insurance: The case of During the Chinese Cultural Revolution” South Korea” (Mook Lim, PhD Candidate); at the Northeastern Universities “Is there a relationship between security Development Consortium Conference held and body mass for Canadian Adults? A at Harvard University on November 2-3, natural experiment approach” (Barry 3 Volume 24, March 2014

Watson, PhD Candidate); and “How does 11:30 to 12:30 at Mona Campbell 3011 a hard manual labour experience during since mid-September 2013. The meetings youth affect life later? The long-term represent a structured forum for graduate impact of the send-down program during students writing theses in macroeconomics the Chinese cultural revolution” (Weina and economic development to present Zhou, Assistant Professor). their research, and faculty members in these fields to present their preliminary The Curriculum Committees of the and ongoing work. The meetings have Faculties of Science and Graduate Studies been punctuated by lively debates and have approved these new courses: Econ engaging discussions. All faculty and 3111 (Writing in Economics), Econ 4700 students are welcome to attend. (Advanced Mathematics for Economists); Econ 4440 (Time Series in Economics) and Econ 5800 (Graduate Financial China Project News Economics). Econ 5800 were offered in January 2014 (co-taught by Professors n May 2013 we had eighteen Maria Pacurar (Management), Kuan Xu students from SDUFE and four (Economics) and Yonggan Zhao Istudents from Renmin who (Management). The other courses will be graduated at the Spring Convocation. offered in the 2014-15 academic year. From SDUFE, ten graduated with an honours degree and amongst them, six The Department has determined that a were with first-class honours and six research essay is more beneficial to the received combined major degree. Sixteen majority of MA students than a thesis. of the 22 graduates are currently enrolled This modification will bring the program in master programs at various universities in line with the norm of MA economics in Canada, the UK and Australia. Three programs in Canada. Modifications to the SDUFE students and three Renmin MDE program include: a) making non- students graduated at the Fall economics classes an option rather than Convocation. a requirement; b) reducing the number of classes required for the two-year Forty-three students from Shandong program; c) increasing preparation in University of Finance and Economics econometrics and its applications; d) (SDUFE) and eleven students from Renmin removing the research essay requirement University of China (RUC) arrived in while retaining the thesis option. These Halifax to begin the Canadian portion of minor modifications to the MA and MDE their 2+2 programs in Economics in programs have been approved by the September 2013. Another five students Faculty of Graduate Studies. arrived in Halifax but will not commence their academic courses until they have News from MED successfully completed a full-time English program at CCE. In 2012, we had 30 students from SDUFE and nine from RUC, o promote research in all of whom are now in their second year macroeconomics and economic at Dal. In additional, four students from development, the Department T previous years are still completing their formed another research unit: programs. Putting all of them together, we Macroeconomics and Economic now have 102 China program students Development unit (MED) in addition to studying at Dalhousie in the 2013-14 SPHERE. The unit has been organizing academic year. weekly meetings every Tuesday from 4 Volume 24, March 2014

In September, Dean of the Faculty of teaching courses in public finance and Science, Chris Moore, and Program urban economics. Director, Barry Lesser, visited China. They attended opening ceremonies for Barry Lesser also spent time teaching at the freshman class at Renmin University SDUFE in both the spring and fall of 2013. nd and at Shandong University of Finance He taught Regional Economics for the 2 and Economics. year students, Regional Economics for the 3rd year students, and International In November, Barry Lesser and Shannon Finance for the 3rd year students from Peng visited China and met with students February to May 2013. In fall 2013, he interested coming to Dalhousie for the taught both Topics in International Trade 2014-15 academic year. They met with and Topics in International Development SDUFE students in Jinan and then met for the 4th year students. with Renmin students in Beijing. A meeting with students from UIBE Baoqi Chen, faculty member and deputy interested in the exchange program also dean of the School of Economics at took place. SDUFE, is the 2013 Faculty Leave Fellowship recipient from SDUFE. He Other events: arrived in Halifax in September 2013 and will stay until April 2014. The 2013 The Dalhousie University Summer Fellowship recipients, Yali Zhang and Li Institute was held again last summer. Wang, returned to China in June and Hosted by the Faculty of Science, the September 2013. course “The Science and Economics of He Zhang, Mianda Lu, Mengdi Zhu, and Climate Change” was offered, taught by Chang Tian from UIBE spent the fall 2013 Prof. Ruth Forsdyke from Economics and semester at Dalhousie with the Dalhousie- Prof. Glen Lesins from Physics and UIBE Exchange Program. He Zhang will Atmospheric Science. Five students came also remain at Dalhousie for the second from China to participate in the program, semester. Three of the four students have joining a class of 16 Dalhousie students, been supported by the China Scholarship several of whom were Joint Program Council during their time at Dalhousie. students. As part of the course, the students visited the Dalhousie Mountain Twelve students in the China Program Wind Turbine Farm, the Tufts Cove were recipients of a Professor W. Russell Energy Generation Plant and the Truro Maxwell Memorial Scholarship Award for campus (Faculty of Agriculture). The 2013/14. The recipients are Lian Long Li, course also included several social Qin Man Li, Yu Yun Li, Ling Chen Meng, events: a lobster boil party at Point Lianwei Shan, Yu Song, Yujiao Song, Xin Pleasant Park, a visit to the Buskers Pei Sun, Pengyu Wang, Ziyu Wang, Wen Festival, Natal Day parade and fireworks, Hui Zhang, and Mengying Zhu. and a ride on the Metro Ferry. The SDUFE-DAL Joint Program Scholarship Daniel de Munnik (Dalhousie) and recipients have been chosen for the 2013- Swapan Dasgupta (Dalhousie) were at 14 year. These awards go to fourth-year SDUFE to teach Intermediate students based on their GPA in the first Microeconomics and Macroeconomics in year of study at Dalhousie. Recipients for May-June, 2013. Paul Hobson (Acadia) 2013-14 are Lianlong Li, Qinman Li, Zequn spent the fall 2013 semester at SDUFE Li, Yingrui Liu, Lingchen Meng, Jingjing Qi, 5 Volume 24, March 2014

Wenxin Qin, Lianwei Shan, Yu Song, Vaulkhard; and PhD: Sarah (MacPhee) Yujiao Song, Haokun Sun, Xinpei Sun, Miller. Pengyu Wang, Lulu Xie, Wenhui Zhang, and Mengying Zhu. Zachary Chartier, Victoria Joy-Warren, Lian Long Li, Qin Man Li, Yu Yun Li, Justin Jacob Parents, Sam Stub, and Brian Mayne, Ling Chen Meng, Thomas Minshull, Morrison are expected to go to UIBE in Stefan Phipps-Burton, Katherine Ryan, 2014 for the UIBE spring semester under Lianwei Shan, Yu Song, Andreas the exchange program with UIBE. All Straathof, Xin Pei Sun, Leonie van Haeren, three are Economics majors at Dalhousie. Pengyu Wang, Ziyu Wang, Wen Hui Many social events have taken place in Zhang, Mengying Zhu, Yujiao Song are the past few months: recipients of a Professor W. Russell Maxwell Memorial Scholarship Award for - September 2013 - A Mentor Program 2013-14. This scholarship is given to BBQ kick-off event was held at which final-year honours students based on their mentors and mentees were introduced to academic performance. each other. This year we have six non- Chinese mentors and six Chinese mentor Offshore Energy Research Association advisors. Chinese Mentor advisors are (OERA) has awarded Stephanie Maillet 2+2 students from the 2012/13 year. (MDE candidate) an opportunity to travel They are grouped with the non-Chinese to Ireland. Stephanie will be researching mentors to provide additional support to European perspectives on the economic non-Chinese mentors. impacts and feasibility of tidal energy development at Trinity College in Dublin. - October 2013 – Halloween Haunted House and Pumpkin Carving: With the Best wishes to the following students who help of DUESA, one of the Economics received their degrees at the May 2013 buildings was transformed into a haunted Convocation Ceremonies: MA: Chenze Lin, house. For many of the 2+2 students, Cong Lin, Qiumei Lin, Syed Nadeem, this was their first time celebrating Moses Odugbemi, Peiyao Shang, Yang Halloween. They enjoyed the pumpkin Wang Hamza Zahid and MDE: Kevin carving and the spooky haunted house. Linklater. December 2013 – A Christmas Party Peng Fei Li was awarded the University organized by the China Program, for Medal in Economics at May’s convocation students, faculty, and staff of the ceremony. The University Medal is Department of Economics on the evening awarded to an Honour’s graduate in of December 16. recognition of superior achievement in his/her field of study. One medal is Student News awarded per department.

est wishes to the following Wenshuang Yu (MA) is this year’s recipient students who received their of the U.L.G. Rao Memorial Prize in Bdegrees at the October 2013 Economics. The prize is awarded to a Convocation Ceremonies: MA: Qiaojie Master’s student with the highest GPA in Chen, Lin Lu, Syed Mahmood, Zongming MA core classes. Ma, Maryia Zhdanava; MDE: Qi Chen, Chris Debow, Ricky Jean-Baptiste, Matt 6 Volume 24, March 2014

Mico Schwartzentruber (MA) and Paul Prize for his paper entitled "Quality Over Spin (PhD) were named recipients of the Quantity: A Study of Quarterback Economics Teaching Assistant Award for Performance and Salary Determinants in academic year 2012-13. The award was the Modern NFL.” The Economics Honours established to celebrate the invaluable Thesis Prize is awarded to the Honours contribution of teaching assistants to the student with the best honours thesis, as economics student experience. determined by the Selection Committee. Specifically, recognition will be given annually to an outstanding TA who Congratulations to William Buckley who inspires students and demonstrates was awarded SSHRC’s 2013 Joseph- excellence in his or her TA duties. Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship Program - Master’s The Department hosted a reception for Scholarships. This program offers non- graduates following the May 23, 2013 renewable, 12-month awards to students convocation ceremony. intending to pursue full-time studies at the master’s level in a discipline supported by Here’s a list of our undergraduate prizes SSHRC. and prize recipients for academic year 2012-13 (including recipient names): Anonymous Prize - Andreas Straathof (BSc) has been awarded the Anonymous Principles of Economics Prize - Ahmed Al- Prize in Economics. The prize is awarded Alimi (BA). This prize is awarded to the to an Economics student or students, not undergraduate Economics major with the in their last year, "who has (have) shown highest combined average in the through an essay outstanding promise of Principles of Microeconomics (ECON successfully applying economics to the 1101) and Principles of Macroeconomics solution of human problems." Straathof (ECON 1102) sequence of courses. was nominated by his Econometrics (Econ 3338) professor, Courtney Ward, for his Economic Theory Prize - Shannon Clamp paper entitled: “Using Oil Prizes to (BSc). The prize is awarded to the Forecast Canadian GDP Growth.” undergraduate Economics major with the highest combined average in the Sarah (MacPhee) Miller (PhD) successfully Intermediate Microeconomics (ECON passed the oral defence of her PhD thesis 2200 or 2220) and Intermediate entitled “Birth Weight and Macroeconomics (ECON 2201) sequence Outcomes in the Early Years.” The of courses. defence was held on April 26, 2013. Sarah’s examining committee included: Econometrics Prize - Justin Mayne (BSc). (Simon Fraser University), External The prize is awarded to the Examiner, Peter Burton, Shelley Phipps undergraduate Economics major with the and Courtney Ward (co-supervisors), and highest combined average in the Kuan Xu(departmental representative). Econometrics I (ECON 3338) and Econometrics II (ECON 3339) sequence of Angela Daley (PhD) and Barry Watson courses. (PhD) received a travel grant from the Faculty of Graduate Studies to attend the Economics Honours Thesis Prize - Greg Atlantic Canada Economics Association Walsh (BSc Honours) is this year's Conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland on recipient of the Economics Honours Thesis October 18-20, 2013. 7 Volume 24, March 2014

years of study. The scholarship will be Aaron Wolf (BSc Econ/IDS) was named as awarded annually to seven full-time one of the recipients of The Governors’ international graduate studies. Awards for 2013. The Governors’ Awards are the top student awards at Dalhousie Number of graduate students in 2013-14: University. They recognize students who PhD - 8; MA - 29; MDE - 13, Qualifying contribute to the quality and vitality of Year - 6, Visiting Graduate Student - 1. the university and the achievement of its Number of undergraduate majors and mission, through both their academic honours students in 2013-14: BA - 75 and accomplishments and their involvement BSc - 195. in campus life. Up to four awards each year are awarded for exceptional Field Trip for Environmental contributions or leadership in such areas Economics class as university governance, development of a sense of community on campus, hen taking the Environmental community service, internationalizing the Economics (Econ 3335) class campus, visual or performing arts, Win the summer, Dal students minority access, or athletics, while typically investigate the interactions maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or above. Aaron between the environment and the serves as VP-External on the DUESA economy. They learn to apply economic Executive for 2013-14. tools to analyze the causes and effects of environmental degradation of water, air, Aaron Wolf (BSc Econ/IDS) has been and waste, in particular, and examine the selected as recipient of the W. Andrew different policies that can and have been MacKay Alumni Scholarship for the 2013- used to improve environmental quality. 2014 academic year. The annual This year, students enrolled in the course scholarship was established by the were able to see for themselves and learn Dalhousie Alumni Association in honour of the ins and outs of Halifax waste Dr. W.A. MacKay, a former Dalhousie management. On Monday, May 27, the president. The scholarships are available class visited the recycling facility located in to students who have demonstrated high Bayer’s Lake. There, they were greeted by academic standing (GPA of at least 3.30) Diana Saunders, solid waste and who have shown an excellence in officer, who gave them a tour of the qualities of leadership, citizenship, and facility, and explained in detail what and sportsmanship. The selection committee how much was recycled in HRM, as well as was particularly impressed by Aaron’s what became of the recycled material commendable academic record and (corrugated paper, aluminum cans, glass demonstrated leadership role in a wide jars, plastics, and organic waste). variety of extracurricular activities. Afterward, they were able to get a glimpse of the Otter Lake landfill facility, which Lingyun Wu (MA) has been awarded a opened in 1999. There, they learned about Faculty of Graduate Studies International the energy produced by landfill gas, and Differential Fee Scholarship for 2013-14. were quite surprised to see hills and green This new scholarship has been grass, and even deer grazing, where they established to assist international were expecting mountains of garbage. graduate students offset the cost of their studies and is awarded on the basis of academic excellence over the last two 8 Volume 24, March 2014

Alumni Update entitled First Forays in International Development: Instructive Experiences ary Kilfoil (PhD, 1998 and from Seven Young Professionals. This sessional instructor in unique book assembles the practical MEconomics) has launched a experiences and lessons learned by young new course “Innovation: A Practical development practitioners working in Asia, Approach to Concepts and Africa, Canada, Latin America, and the Implementation” (CSCI 4190). This Caribbean. Presented here are firsthand course is one of several pilot projects accounts reflecting candidly (and critically) across campus to receive funding from on their experiences working in a wide DALVision Academic Innovation initiative cross section of development this past year. Undergrads from all Dal organizations. These accounts provide faculties will have the chance to learn insights on what makes a successful how to start bringing their “light-bulb” development project and, at the same moments to life. Students will learn time, a successful development within a creative, team-based practitioner. Such lessons will prove to be environment, how to employ their unique of great practical use to both prospective perceptions and skills in order to develop interns and the organizations that host ideas and cultivate innovation. Course them. The book is available at activities are highly interactive and Amazon.com. thought provoking, involving team exercises to reinforce creativity and Daniel de Munnik (BSc Hons., 2002) was innovation techniques taught. appointed Principle Researcher of the Canadian Economic Analysis (CEA) Jamie Charlebois (MDE 2012) is currently Department’s Canadian Projection and working as an International Microfinance Policy Analysis Division in September and Microenterprise Fellow through the 2013. In this capacity, he is responsible Aga Khan Foundation Canada with CARE for forecasting/nowcasting Canadian real Bangladesh on CARE’s flagship GDP in the short run. Daniel joined the agricultural value chain project: Bank in 2003 as an Economist in the Strengthening the Dairy Value Chain Regional Analysis Division’s Atlantic (SDVC). The project aims to increase the Regional Office (CEA). In 2010, he joined income of small-scale dairy farmers by the Canadian Projection and Policy increasing their access to quality inputs Analysis Division’s monitoring team. His (such as nutritious cow feed) and training research efforts have been related to while simultaneously linking them to a Canadian international trade, labour well established dairy company (BRAC market dynamics (migration), and Dairy) who gives them a higher fat-based business conditions survey design. In price for their milk. The project uses a addition to his work at the Bank, Daniel facilitative approach; the goal is that has been an Instructor for the Economics when CARE eventually leaves the Department at Dalhousie University communities, the market linkages they (Halifax) since 2006. Daniel has a helped to create will remain in place. master’s degree in economics from SDVC is funded by The Bill and Melinda McMaster University. Gates Foundation and the vast majority of the beneficiaries are women. Vikram Rai (BSc Hons Econ/Math 2011) has accepted an Economist position in the Jamie Charlebois, and a group of MDE Global Issues Division in the International alumni, have recently published a book 9 Volume 24, March 2014

Economic Analysis Department of the Bank of Canada.

Zhe (Jerry) Ren (PhD, 2011) and Aricy Pan are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Melanie, born May 17, 2013. Sarah (MacPhee) Miller (PhD 2013) and Kevin Miller are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Emma, who was born only a few days after the defence of Sarah’s thesis in late April. Kodjo Efu (MDE 2012) and Ifeatu Nwafornso (MDE 2009) became proud parents on July 26, 2013, with the birth of their daughter, Zikora.

Gerard Walsh (BSc, 2010) has published his honour thesis entitled "Sector Shifts and Canadian Unemployment: 1991- 2009" in Just@Dal, Journal of Undergraduate Science Today at Dalhousie, Volume 2, 23-32. In his paper, Walsh finds that inter-sectoral shifts of labour did not meaningfully affect the unemployment rate over the period of 1991-2009. Significance in other structural factors suggests that if lower unemployment rates are to be achieved, closer attention must be paid to labour market institutions. Congratulations, Gerard!

ECON MATTERS is published by the Department of Economics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2. Inquiries and suggestions for future issues may be sent to Monique Comeau ([email protected]). ECON MATTERS is available on our web site: http://economics.dal.ca.