Department of Economics

Welcome

Welcome to the Department of Economics at Iowa State University. We provide the intellectual home to a set of dedicated and talented faculty, motivated and extremely capable staff, and a diverse group of enthusiastic undergraduate and graduate students.

What is Economics?

Economics is the study of what individuals, institutions, and economic systems do, or should do, as they deal with the problem of satisfying virtually unlimited wants with scarce resources. Economics deals with choices and optimization, typically embedded in a market system where the notion of equilibrium is essential and where prices play a crucial role. Economics provides a logical and ordered way of looking at a wide variety of issues, and the principles of economics are finding growing applicability in a number of fields. An understanding of economic concepts can provide substantial personal and social benefits.

View the latest edition of Alumni Update (spring 2013)

Gain an in-depth look at the programs, students, faculty and alumni of the Iowa State Department of Economics - read the spring 2013 edition of Alumni Update.

Kling named Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor

Catherine Kling, professor of economics and interim CARD director, was recently named a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences. Kling has been the head of CARD's Resource and Environmental Policy Division since 1999, and has served as the interim director since 2011.

Calhoun uses statistical analysis to make sports projections

With 24-hour sports networks and social media, there is no shortage of sports information and statistics for fans to access. But a desire for better analysis of those statistics led Assistant Professor Gray Calhoun to create VisualScoreboard.com, a website designed to give fans a breakdown of the game and make projections on future matchups through statistical analysis.

Congratulations to Neil Harl for his receipt of the Faculty and Staff Order of the Knoll award.

News

Rimi awarded Heady Fellowship

Tamanna Rimi is a second year graduate student in the Department of Economics at Iowa State University, and is the recent recipient of the Earl Heady Graduate Fellowship. Rimi will receive $7,500 to partially fund her graduate studies in agricultural economics.

2013 Alumni Update now available

The spring 2013 Alumni Update, an annual publication of the Department of Economics at ISU, is now available both online and in hard copy. It features news and information about alumni, faculty, and staff in the department. This year's edition places special emphasis on undergraduates from the department who represent some of the university's best and brightest. Diverse departmental research, and a special focus on one of our graduate disciplines are also featured.

Alumni Update can be viewed online at: http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/newsletter/spring-2013/newsletter.pdf. Additional hardcopies are available upon request by emailing ksenty@iastate.edu. Feedback and comments are always welcome.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences