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2022 NEWSLETTER

Message from Steven Haider, Chair of the Department of Economics

I’m very happy to report that we have had a wonderfully normal year. While allowances must still be made for the effects of COVID on student and faculty absences, just about everything is back to normal. And our students, staff, and faculty deserve no less.

MSU’s Lisa Cook becomes first Black woman on Federal Reserve board

“I’d like to thank President Biden for nominating me to serve on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. I’m honored to serve the public through this important U.S. institution,” Professor Lisa Cook said.

Nick takes glass award from Dean Mary Finn.

MSU Economics alumnus Nick Nefouse wins award and shares his journey

“Economics forces you to think about systems and why systems evolve. My foundation in economics gave me an understanding of economies, history, systems and markets that proved more valuable over time,” Nick Nefouse said.

Dr. Rene Crespin joins the Department of Economics as College of Social Science Dean's research associate

"Through the AEASP experience, I saw how committed MSU professors involved with AEASP were in making sure that undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds felt welcomed and valued for their perspectives. The Dean’s Research Associate program will provide me with the opportunity to contribute to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment and advance my research and teaching," Professor Rene Crespin said.

Carrie Nielsen in front of lake and mountain.

Economics undergraduate spotlight: Carrie Nielsen's passion for social justice

“I am the community outreach coordinator for the Refugee Outreach Collective, a student group which works to promote awareness of the hurdles displaced people face worldwide and support local refugees through a tutoring program in Lansing. I am also a member of the Sierra Club, an environmental organization, and I will be a mentor for international students in the American Semester Program this year,” Carrie Nielsen said.

Enrique Seira paddling in a boat on a lake.

Professor Enrique Seira Joins MSU Department of Economics as new Frederick S. Addy Distinguished Chair of Economics

“I am extremely excited to form part of the MSU community and the Economics Department. The field of development economics has transformed itself in the last two decades and I want to make sure MSU students are exposed to this exciting body of knowledge. Colleagues are amazing, the department is very well run, and I am looking forward to contributing to the research environment, connecting with people from different fields, both within economics but also across departments, like agricultural food and resource economics, criminal justice, education, management, and others,” Professor Enrique Seira said.

Professor Leslie Papke to serve as new Department of Economics associate chair

"I'll be managing the undergraduate program. For example, in economics, our majors often go outside of the department to meet the experiential learning requirement. The student proposes a course to our advisors, and then I work to get the request approved by the college. I also have the pleasure of being the faculty contact for the Economics Club. It's fun to interact with undergraduates that are not in my classes," Professor Leslie Papke said.

Bringing energy to light - MSU Economics doctoral student spotlight Elise Breshears

“I decided to pursue a PhD so that I could develop a toolset to study questions around these areas of interest. Because of this, I prioritized technical training, both within applied microeconomics and econometrics, when applying to graduate programs. Michigan State University excels at both of these areas, and it was the strongest department among my options. This, in addition to the relationships that I developed with graduate students and faculty members during the application process, made Michigan State University my top choice,” Elise Breshears said.

Professor Todd Elder selected as College of Social Science Diversity Champion

“A child can be diagnosed with a disability in a particular environment, but that same child might not be diagnosed (or treated) with a disability in a somewhat different environment. It is important to research these topics because they can shed light on inequality in the underlying causes of disabilities and in their identification and treatment," Professor Todd Elder said.

MSU Economics announces inaugural Marilyn Addy Teacher Scholar Award recipient

“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the inaugural Marilyn Addy Teacher Scholar Award. The Addy family’s generosity and steadfast dedication to excellence in teaching is inspiring, and I am touched that my efforts are resonant with these traits. I will continue to work hard on my teaching and hope to serve as a good role model for future award winners,” Professor Ben Bushong said.

Marilyn Adams, Jim Adams and Jeff Wooldridge sit together.

Professor Jeff Wooldridge announced as inaugural Walter Adams Distinguished Faculty Fellow in Economics

"I am honored to be the first holder of the Walter Adams Distinguished Faculty and want to thank the Adams' family for their generosity," Professor Jeff Wooldridge said.

Read more about the late Walter Adams, former MSU president and distinguished professor.

Samantha Levine with red phone booth in London.

MSU Economics students travel to London, England to learn about the government’s role in the economy and healthcare

“I decided to go apply for this study abroad program first and foremost because it aligned with my academic requirements yet also would be an invaluable opportunity to explore places I had never been before. The chance to meet new friends and create great memories was an added bonus,” said Economics junior Samantha Levine.

MSU Economics assistant professor Ajin Lee researches health inequities and teaches students to think like an economist

“Somewhat unsurprisingly, there are large inequalities in health at birth. For example, the incidences of low birth weight and prematurity are much higher among children of lower-educated and lower-income mothers than among children of higher-income, higher-educated mothers. What is more surprising is that these indicators of health at birth are strong predictors of future outcomes, such as educational achievement, adult earnings, as well as future health. I was fascinated by these relationships and became interested in understanding the determinants of infant health and ways to improve infant health through various types of interventions,” Professor Ajin Lee said.

Evidence that university and college vaccine mandates reduce community COVID-19 cases shown in new MSU-collaborative study

“While there is evidence that vaccines improve health outcomes for individuals, our analysis showed that college- and university-imposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates also benefited the community beyond the campus,” Professor Scoot Imberman said.

Celebrating the Career and Retirement of Dr. Charley Ballard

"I made an effort to really engage with the Michigan community, because with MSU being a land-grant university, it's in our DNA to try and connect with the community. We do a lot more outreach and engagement than a lot of other places, and that's something that's really important to me," Professor Charley Ballard explained.

MSU Economists' Recent Research Highlights

Michigan State’s economics professors are active researchers, typically publishing their research discoveries in the form of articles in peer-reviewed scholarly journals. A handful of these journals are recognized as the premier journals in economics, that is, they publish those research results that seem most likely to make an important contribution to our knowledge of the workings of the economic system.

Support the Department of Economics

Are you passionate about the field of economics or your experiences at MSU and considering ways to give back? A gift to our department could be used to help undergraduate and graduate students, research, or other scholarly activities.

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MSU Department of Economics

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