The Economics Department is currently updating its website. Please contact Amanda Greenig or Ihsuan Li if you have any questions regarding the content of the webpages.
The spring semester is coming to an end. Good luck with your final exams and papers, and have a great summer break!
The best Senior Research Seminar term paper in the spring 2013 semester was awarded to Matthew Tuomala. The runner ups were Jongha Jung and Mathew Malvin. Congratulations for a job well done!
The Department of Economics co-hosted the Annual Economic Lecture held each year on the Omicron Delta Epsilon induction day. This year's lecture was given by Dr. Richard Vedder, director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity. The event took place on April 9, 2013, 6 pm, Ostrander Auditorium, Minnesota State University Mankato campus. See: [PDF] Richard Vedder Lecture on April 9, 2013. (93 KiB)
Ozlem Barin (2014) is the recipient of the International Endowment Scholarship at MNSU for the 2013-2014 academic year. Congrats, Ozlem!
Students Jongha Jung and Curtis Gruidl presented their papers on the topics of time series analysis of industrial time varying betas in the US, and state budget deficits and political ideology at the MnSCU Conference, April 8th, 2013, in Minnesota State University, Mankato. Other students who presented in the economics session came from Minnesota State University Moorhead, students Ryan Dylan, Rachel Hettich, and Kawai Lau. Congrats to everyone for a job well done!
Congratulations to students Mathew Malvin, Ozlem Barin, and Matthew Petersen, for their economics scholarship award. Mathew received the Frauenshuh scholarship; Ozlem the Askalani scholarship; Matthew the Petersen scholarship.
Ms. Ozlem Barin, Economics major student, has been awarded First Prize in the for her paper “An Analysis of Labor, Infrastructure, and Education Issues Brought by the North Dakota Oil Boom.” The First Prize award includes an internship at the Community Development Finance Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis during the summer of 2013. The Federal Reserve will also publish Ms. Barin’s paper in July, 2013.The Undergraduate Writing Competition was open to all undergraduate students in the states of the Ninth Federal Reserve District (Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, 26 counties in Northwestern Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan). Ms. Barin’s research was supported through a Minnesota State University, Mankato Foundation, Inc. Award ($1,000 stipend), and her research was completed under the supervision of Dr. Ihsuan Li.
Congrats to members of Kappa Chapter of Minnesota of Omicron Delta Epsilon, International Honor Society in Economics for its award in Community Service. The award, presented by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, will be formalized in a ceremony on April 16th, 2013, CSU 253, 8 am.
The Center for Economic Education at MSU, M hosted the 2013 challenge on March 22, 2013.Two local high schools participated.
Students Michael Fitzgerald and Curtis Gruidl were the recipients of small (stipend) grants from URC. Mike proposed to examine the relationship between tuition and state level appropriations. Curtis' grant proposal looks at budget deficits at state level from the public choice perspective. The students are required to present their findings in the Undergraduate Research Symposium on April 16th, 2013. Congrats!
The department of Economics held its third Special Advising session on February 20th, 2013 (Wednesday), 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm, MH 102. Alumni Mike Murzyn, Senior Director of Analytics at CotterWeb Enterprises, Inc. and Eric Anderson, Major of the City of Mankato, talked to students about the major and how econ helped them with their careers. About 45 attendees were present.
The department made a session presentation during the Professional Development Day (January 9, 2013; 1:15 to 2:15 pm; Armstrong Hall 217) on the topic of "Program Redesign in Economics: challenges and achievements."
The Kappa chapter of Minnesota of Omicron Delta Epsilon was awarded a grant of $1,500 from the International Honor Society in Economics, Omicron Delta Epsilon. The grant is to fund the Annual Economic Lecture hosted by the department and the two student club organizations (Econ Club and Kappa chapter of ODE).
Great news from alum Austin Lee (2012). Austin was accepted to the Law School at Stanford University and will start grad school this fall semester.
The department is represented again this year at the National Council on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) Conference. Students Matthew Petersen, Ozlem Barin, and Ryan Backstrom were selected among 3,500 students nationawide who submitted their research abstracts for presentation at the 2013 NCUR Conference. Congratulations to Ozlem, Matthew, and Ryan! We are very prouf of your achievements.
The top paper award from the Senior Research Seminar course (ECON482) in fall 2012 has been announced: Daniel Michels (2012) won the honor for the best research paper. The runner ups were Jesse Backstrom, Zach Hubert, and Cooper Johnson. Congratulations to all!
Ozlem Barin (ex
p. 2013), economics major, was named a finalist in the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Finance Undergraduate Writing Competition, 2012. The competition, open to all undergraduate students in the six states of the Ninth Federal Reserve District (Minnesota, Montana, North and South Dakota, 26 counties in northwestern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan), required students to address public policy issues raised by the effects of the North Dakota oil boom on area residents. Three top essays were chosen from all essays submitted to the competition, and the best essay will be chosen on March 2013 after a presentation in a conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. As a finalist, Ozlem will receive a scholarship to attend the conference and compete for the first prize, an internship at the Community Development Finance department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis in the summer of 2013. Ozlem was also the recipient of a Foundation Award ($1,000 stipend) from the for her research proposal entitled “An Analysis of Labor, Infrastructure, and Education Issues Brought by the North Dakota Oil Boom.”
Students Jungha Jung and Ozlem Barin were awarded funding for their research proposals submitted to the Undergraduate Research Center. Jungha received URC funding for supplies and Ozlem was awarded the Foundation grant. Congrats!!
The department organized its second Special Advising Session for Econ majors/minors on 10/17/2012 (4:30 pm to 6 pm; MH102). There was very good attendance, and students heard from alum and guest speaker Robert Malvin talk about the usefulness of an econ major in the business world. Pizza and pop were served.
Justin Bedore (2012) is the recipient of the Gold Key Award, by Omicron Delta Epsilon, International Honor Society in Economics, in its Outstanding Student Leader Awards Competition for 2011-2012. Congrats, Justin!
Ozlem Barin (exp. 2013), an economics major from Turkey, was the recipient of the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business scholarship awarded by Zonta Club of Mankato, a chapter of Zonta International, on May 8, 2012. The scholarship, in the amount of $1,000, provides financial assistance to women pursuing undergraduate degrees in business, management or related majors, and recognizes her outstanding leadership potential. Congrats, Ozlem!
The Economics Department is pleased to announce that student Dana Simonson (2012) is a finalist in the Atlantic International Economic Association 2012 Undergraduate Student Research Paper contest. The best paper will be announced on October 7th, 2012 in Montreal, Canada. The top four finalists are Dana Simonson (Minnesota State University, Mankato), Jia Yi Leong (University of Warwick, UK), Colin Gray (Stanford University, USA), and Boris Georgiev (Aarhus University, Denmark). Update: Dana Simonson presented her paper on October 6th; Colin Gray of Stanford University won the best paper award from IAES. Our thanks to Dana for presenting her paper and congratulations to Colin.
Congratulations to student Justin Bedore! Justin accepted a job offer with the FDIC in Sacramento, CA. Justin will be joining the FDIC office in the fall of 2012.
Alex Hevern, recent Economics major graduate, was admitted to Master in Public Policy programs at Carnegie Mellon University, University of Minnesota, and (waitlisted) at University of Chicago.
The department is pleased to announce that two student research papers from students Hanako Maruyama, Matthew Petersen and Joshua Rosamond were accepted for presentation at the 2012 NCUR conference at Weber State University, Ogden, Utah. Congrats!
Students Justin Bemenderfer, Ben Guthmiller, Victor Agunbiade, and Gulmira Fazilova presented their research paper at the Minnesota State University annual undergraduate research symposium, URC, on April 9, 2012. Victor's presentation on the topic of government agricultural subsidies and their impact on farm rental rates was chosen as the best paper presentation in the economics session. The session included four papers, including business topics.
Congratulations to Ben Guthmiller who was chosen to present his research paper at the first MnSCU undergraduate research conference hosted at Minnesota State University, Mankato, on April 23, 2012. Ben's paper tested the pecking order theory using updated financial data and contributed to the literature by controlling for specific industries in the sample.
Congrats to student Gulmira Fazilova! Gulmira is the recipient of a Foundation Grant of $1000. Gulmira's paper examined post transition market economies in the former Soviet bloc countries.
Joining the rank of emeriti faculty members is Dr. Schiming, who retired in May 2012. Follow this link to find contact information of the following emeriti faculty members: [PDF] www.mnsu.edu/emeriti/lists/Emeriti0607.pdf (635 KiB). They are: Arlen Skorr (Mankato), Arnie Wells (Good Thunder, Minnesota), Gerald Alonzo Smith (Mankato), Don Renner (Minneapolis), Jason Kesler (Bloomfield, KY), Paul Thompson (Mankato), David Abel (Mankato), Richard Schiming (Baltimore, Maryland), and Paul Tix (Stearns County, Minnesota).
Ms. Amanda Greenig joined our department as the new administrative assistant, replacing Ms. Barb Lutz who retired in May of 2012.
The number of economics majors has grown by about 40% since 2008 to 165 students (spring of 2012). Similarly, the Kappa chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon of Minnesota at MSU, Mankato has seen a significant increase in new members. The chapter has inducted a record number (15) of new members in 2012, the third highest number since its inception in 1986.
Many of our recent graduates have returned to MSU, M to pursue further graduate studies in Mathematics and Statistics. Among them are Aaron Bader, Yuyoung Park, Guncha Jumakuliyeva, and Jacob Westman. We are very proud of these focused and committed students; we wish them the best as they continue on their way to preparing for eventual doctoral degrees in Economics once they graduate with their master's in Math and Stats.
Economics major student, Austin Lee, was chosen to deliver the commencement speech representing the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences in May 2012.
Professor Richard Schiming retired this May 2012 after 31 years of teaching at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Our best wishes to Dr. Schiming.
Ms. Barbara Lutz, administrative assistant to the Economics Department, also retired this past May after 37 years of service to the department and the University. Ms. Lutz will be sorely missed by students, faculty members, and staff who were fortunate to have known her. Best wishes to Barb!
On April 9, the Economics department held its first career and major advising session. The session provided information on graduate school preparation, job search, local business presentation, and preparation toward Senior Research Seminar (capstone course).
The department is pleased to announce the offering of an online, diversity Purple, and writing intensive course, starting the fall semester of 2012. The course, ECON 103 W The Economics of Women's Issues and Public Policies in the United States, will examine major gender related issues from the economic perspective.
Congratulations to students Frerishia McKenzie, Cooper Johnson, and Nicholas Laxen for their scholarship awards! Frerishia was awarded the 2012 Askalani Scholarship, Cooper the 2012 Frauenshuh Scholarship, and Nicholas the 2012 Petersen Scholarship. Update (spring 2012): Jesse Backstrom was awarded the Petersen Scholarship, replacing Nicholas Laxen as the deserving recipient.
Since 2009, the Department of Economics has brought to MSU nationally well known speakers as invited guest speakers for its Kappa Omicron Delta Epsilon Lecture Series. Among the invited speakers were Dr. Yaron Brook of Ayn Rand Institute, Timothy Taylor of the Journal of Economic Perspectives, Dr. King Banaian of St. Cloud State University, Dr. Thomas Woods of the Von Mises Institute, and Dr. Robert Murphy of the Von Mises Institute. The annual lectures are usually held in April of each year on MSU campus. If you are interested in this series and in attending upcoming lectures, please email us for more information.
The Best Senior Research Seminar paper award in spring of 2012 was awarded to student Justin Bemenderer. The runner ups were Dana Simonson and Aaron Christie. Congrats!
Economics major student Guncha Jumakuliyeva was chosen to deliver the commencement speech representing the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences in May 2011.
The department is very honored to be the recipient of a new scholarship established by alum David Frauenshuh. Mr. Frauenshuh is an economics major graduate from MSU, M (1966). In addition to the scholarship, Mr. Frauenshuh has also invited two of our majors, Yuyoung Park and Aaron Bader, to attend luncheon lectures at the Economics Club in Minneapolis (fall of 2011).
The Best Senior Research Seminar paper award in fall of 2011 was awarded to TBA. The runner up was Ms. Hanako Maruyama. Congrats!
The Best Senior Research Seminar paper award in spring of 2011 were awarded to Ms. Guncha Jumakuliyeva and Mr. Aaron Bader. The runner up was Alex Hevern.
Congratulations to Yuyoung Park! Yuyoung, who graduated in December 2010, won the second prize in the student term paper contest held by the Minnesota Economic Association, sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Yuyoung's paper examined financial aids and crime rates. You can read the paper at: http://www.minneapolisfed.org/mea/contest/2011.cfm
Guncha Jumakuliyeva, who graduated in May 2011, won the second prize (runner up) in an essay contest sponsored by the four Federal Reserve Banks (Minneapolis, St. Louis, Atlanta, and Dallas) on the topic of restructuring new markets tax credit program. Guncha was the only undergraduate student among the top three finalists. Guncha presented her essay in the Fed conference in St. Louis, MO, May 2011 in the "Exploring Innovation: A Conference on Community Development Finance" conference. Her essay is posted at the Minneapolis Fed website: http://m.minneapolisfed.org/article.cfm?id=4850
Congrats to Yuyoung Park! Yuyoung was the recipient of two research grants: the small research grant and the Foundation Grant at MSU. Ms. Park submitted a proposal to investigate the relationship between crime rates and financial aids in the United States.
The Best Senior Research Seminar paper award in fall of 2010 was awarded to Ms. Yuyoung Park. The runner ups were Amanda Helget and Christina Lotton.
The Best Senior Research Seminar paper award in the spring of 2010 was awarded to Jared Krull.
Ms. Guncha Jumakuliyeva was awarded a small research grant of $500 for her research proposal on affirmative action policies and gender wage differentials.
The Best Senior Research Seminar paper award in fall of 2009 was awarded to Kyle Frank.
The Economics program has redesigned its capstone course, ECON 482, Senior Seminar into Senior Research Seminar. The redesigned course was first offered in the fall of 2009. Students in this course are required to integrate economic theory with practice by producing a standard economic research paper in one semester.
Minnesota State
University, Mankato
Mankato, MN 56001
1-800-722-0544
© 2005-2013 Minnesota State University, Mankato. Minnesota State University, Mankato is a member of
Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system and an affirmative action/equal opportunity university.
