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Announcements for Friday, September 9, 2011

News

  • "Hall of Honor" houses Provost Hoffman's award for women in economics

    The Department of Economics will temporarily display the Carolyn Shaw Bell Award, recently received by Iowa State University Executive Vice President and Provost Elizabeth Hoffman.

    The Carolyn Shaw Bell Award was created in January 1998 as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession (CSWEP). Carolyn Shaw Bell, the Katharine Coman Chair Professor Emerita of Wellesley College, was the first Chair of CSWEP. The award is given annually to an individual who has furthered the status of women in the economics profession through example, achievements, increasing our understanding of how women can advance in the economics profession, or mentoring others.

    The award is on display in the department’s third floor “Hall of Honor,” where university professor and distinguished professor awardees are also currently displayed.

    Hoffman is a professor of economics who began her appointment as executive vice president and provost, January 1, 2007. She served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University from 1993-1997. From 1997-2000, Elizabeth served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and from 2000 to 2005 she served as the 20th president of the University of Colorado (CU) system. Hoffman received her B.A. in history from Smith College, M.A. & Ph.D. in history from the University of Pennsylvania and Ph.D. in Social Science (economics) from Caltech.

  • Today's Ag Econ Workshop: Li Yu, Central University of Finance and Economics, China

    “Do large firms with more technologies pay more?: Evidence from U.S. Hog Farms,” with Li Yu, Central University of Finance and Economics, China; Friday, Sep 9th, 3:40 pm - 5:00 pm, 368A Heady Hall


    Li Yu is an assistant professor at the China Center for Human Capital and Labor Market Research, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China. She graduated from Iowa State University with a PhD in Economics in 2008. Her research interests include human capital and labor economics, entrepreneurship and rural development. Recent publications are in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and Economic Quarterly Development.


    Abstract: Study of size wage premium in earning’s literature neglects the important role played by technology adoption. This study models the size selection corrected earning’s function by introducing an extra dimension of individual selection based on technology complexity, using a sample from workers in US hog farms. The estimated wage gap between large and small farms is reduced once correction in selection on two dimensions is controlled. Workers compensate monetary income for better work environment, better health and more job security, in which large farms and technologically advanced farms have advantages.

  • Thursday's Human Resources Workshop: Kevin Mumford, Purdue University

    "Personal Income Tax Salience: Evidence from the Child and Dependent Care Credit Expansion," with Kevin Mumford, Purdue University, Thursday, September 15, 3:40 PM to 5 PM, 368A Heady Hall


    Kevin Mumford is an assistant professor in the Economics Department at Purdue University. His research has focused on taxation, fertility and families, labor supply, poverty, and sustainability. He completed his PhD in economics at Stanford University. He has received research grants from the Institute for Research on Poverty, the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. In 2010, he was awarded the John and Mary Willis Young Faculty Scholar Award.


    Abstract: This paper uses a simple behavioral model to show that low salience can cause an over-response to the financial incentives of a tax change rather than the under-response that has been found in the literature. Data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey is used to show that taxpayers over-responded to the 2003 expansion of the Child and Dependent Care Credit. By exploiting the heterogeneity in the size of the perceived and actual change in the value of the credit, we find evidence of a child-care expenditure response to the perceived change and no evidence of a response to the actual change.

  • Friday's seminar: Emek Basker, University of Missouri

    "Taken by Storm: Credit Constraints in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina," with Emek Basker, University of Missouri, Friday, September 16, 3:40 PM to 5 PM, 368A Heady Hall

    Abstract: We apply difference-in-difference and triple-difference regressions to investigate business recovery in Louisiana and Mississippi three years after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and find evidence consistent with credit constraints in the immediate aftermath of the storms. Using various proxies for a firm's access to credit markets, including firm size, distance to the nearest bank, and demographic characteristics of the owner, we find that firms with lower access to credit disproportionately exited early and took longer to recover when damaged by the storms. These findings are robust to controlling for establishment productivity and hold despite the many government programs mobilized to help storm survivors.

    Emek Basker is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, where she has taught since receiving her Ph.D. in economics from MIT in 2002. She has held visiting positions at the Federal Reserve Banks of St. Louis and Philadelphia and at the Haas School of Business at the University of California-Berkeley, and was an ASA/NSF/Census Bureau Fellow at the U.S. Census Bureau. Her primary area of research is the economics of retail markets and the implications of recent trends in the retail sector, such as the growth of "big box" chains, on consumers, competitive conditions, and the supply chain. Her current work is on innovation and technology adoption by retail firms and on the impact of credit constraints on the retail sector.

  • Weekly media connections for the Department of Economics

    Dave Swenson was interviewed by Ed Tibbets, Quad City Times reporter, who had questions about President Obama's upcoming jobs speech and which of the various programs will produce meaningful increases in employment.

Graduate Student Announcements

  • $20,000 USDOL Academic Grant

    U.S. Department of Labor Announces 2011 Employment and Training Research Paper Program. The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA) invites applications from doctoral candidates and postdoctoral candidates for its 2011 Employment and Training Research Paper Program. ETA plans to make awards for up to $20,000 for seven months to produce original research projects, which lead to publications in peer-reviewed journals. Applicants can come from any discipline. Winning proposals will address topics relevant to employment and training and exhibit thematic creativity, well-thought out designs, and valid and appropriate methods.

  • Sept. 18 deadline for funding opportunity for doctoral candidates and postdocs

    This is a gentle reminder that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is accepting applications for the 2011 Employment and Training Research Paper Program. ETA seeks to fund research proposals from accomplished doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers, who can be U.S. citizens, residents or non-U.S. citizens who are in the U.S. legally (e.g., with a visa). We are interested in rigorous, innovative research projects on such topics as low-wage labor markets, career advancement, the functioning and outcomes of the publicly-funded workforce system including training programs, and youth development, among others.

    More details about the program and application instructions are provided in the attached announcement and applicant identification form, which can also be found at: http://www.doleta.gov/etainfo/opder/2011_employment_and_training.cfm.

    Please note that the last date for applications is September 18, 2011 (extended from September 16).

     

    ETA supports research and evaluation projects on a variety of topics related to the public workforce system, youth development programs, and effectiveness of training programs, among others. The findings of studies sponsored by our agency inform national and state policy making, research methodology, and practices of the workforce investment system and its partners.

    The purpose of the present program is to support early career researchers interested in questions that pertain to connecting people to rewarding jobs and careers or ensuring that American employers have a capable workforce. Thank you again for bringing this announcement to the attention of doctoral candidates, recent doctoral alumni, and postdoctoral researchers at your institution and disseminating it through any appropriate professional networks or channels. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions at tereshchenko.bogdan@dol.gov.

Conferences and Calls for Papers

  • Royal Economic Society 2012 Annual Conference Calls for Papers, Young Talent Nominations and Special Session Proposals

    We would like to draw your attention to the 2012 Annual Conference of the Royal Economic Society taking place between the 26th and 28th March at the University of Cambridge. The Royal Economic Society is one of the oldest and most prestigious economic associations in the world. It is a professional association promoting the encouragement of the study of economic science in academic life, government service, banking, industry and public affairs. The Annual Conference has expanded in recent years and now attracts 500 delegates. All conference information available at:http://www.resconference.org.uk/

    Deadlines:

    • Call for Young Talent Nominations -15 September 2011
    • Call for Papers -15 October 2011
    • Call for Special Session Proposals 15 October 2011
  • Midwest Economics Association 2012 Conference Call for Papers
  • Eastern Economic Association Call For Papers

    The Eastern Economic Association announces its call for papers for the 2012 meetings, for papers in all subject areas of economics.  March 9 – 11, 2012, Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Boston, MA

    • Submissions begin Sept 9, 2011 at MIDNIGHT.
    • Early Paper Submission Deadline: October 4, 2011 Paper Submission Deadline: November 8, 2011
    • Organized Sessions Deadline: November 10, 2011
    • Conference Registration Deadline: January 18, 2012 Hotel Reservations Deadline: January 18, 2012

    Conference Website: http://www.ramapo.edu/eea/2012/

    For more information contact: Dr. Alexandre Olbrecht, Executive Director, EEA; Phone: (201) 684-7346; Fax: (201) 684-7957; E-mail: eea@ramapo.edu.

Funding Opportunities

  • Dissertation and postdoctoral fellowship announcement

    The National Academy of Education (NAEd) invites applicants for the following fellowship programs:

    National Academy of Education/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program - The Dissertation Fellowship Program seeks to encourage a new generation of scholars from a wide range of disciplines and professional fields to undertake research relevant to the improvement of education. These $25,000 fellowships support individuals whose dissertations show potential for bringing fresh and constructive perspectives to the history, theory, or practice of formal or informal education anywhere in the world. Fellows will also attend professional development retreats and receive mentorship from NAEd members and other senior scholars in their field.

    This highly competitive program aims to identify the most talented emerging researchers conducting dissertation research related to education. The Dissertation Fellowship program receives many more applications than it can fund. This year, up to 600 applications are anticipated and about 20 fellowships will be awarded.

    Additional guidelines and the fellowship application form are available from our website (www.naeducation.org). Deadline: October 3, 2011.

    National Academy of Education /Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship Program - The NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship Program supports early-career scholars working in critical areas of educational scholarship. Fellows will receive $55,000 for one academic year of research, or $27,500 for each of two contiguous years, working half time. Fellows will also attend professional development retreats and receive mentorship from NAEd members and other senior scholars in their field. Applicants must have had their PhD, EdD, or equivalent research degree conferred between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2011. This fellowship is non-residential, and applications from all disciplines are encouraged. Up to twenty NAEd/Spencer Fellowships will be awarded.

    Additional guidelines and the fellowship application are available from our website (www.naeducation.org). Deadline: November 4, 2011.

    Contact Information: Philip Perrin, Program Officer - Professional Development Programs; E-mail: info@naeducation.org; Website: www.naeducation.org

  • Funding opportunity - regional research for nutrient reduction (due 9/30/11)

    The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Gulf of Mexico Program is seeking proposals for projects that seek to improve the health of the Gulf of Mexico. Funded projects will be those that work to at least do one of the following- improve water quality and public health, conserve and restore coastal habitats, improve coastal environmental education, and/or improve ecosystem integration and assessment, etc. It is also crucial that projects actively involve regional stakeholders.

    Although the focus is on Gulf States, opportunities exist for upper Mississippi River basin states (see priority issue area #5, starting on page 15). Proposals will be accepted from states, local governments, territories, Indian tribes, public and private universities and colleges, and other public or nonprofit institutions.

    Guidelines are available at: http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/pdf/gm-regional-partnerships-rfp-2011.pdf

Job Opportunities

  • Investment Officer / Ph.D - Southeast U.S.

    Title: Investment Officer / Ph.D (0793-001-711) - Location: Southeast U.S.

    Compensation: Commensurate with experience

    Summary: Global investment management firm seeks Ph.D with combination of deep research experience, strong client-facing capability, and excellent written/verbal communication skills to work on research projects in support of firm?s client service/consultant service/marketing/investment professionals.

    Responsibilities: Structure and conduct independent research analyses related to firm's investment process/products/ performance with the goal of enhancing the firm?s reputation and expanding business opportunities. Design literature/exhibits that provide potential clients/existing clients/consultants/staff with an understanding of firm?s investment process/products/performance. Coordinate with various departments to obtain/maintain the data needed to support research projects. Coordinate with Research Investment Team on the management of database/technical information used in graphical displays of various statistical measures Work as a member of investment team to provide insights necessary to improve activities related to the client relations/consultant relations aspects of the business. Meet with potential clients/consultants/team members to explain investment process/products/performance and to answer questions and address concerns. Educate/train staff on investment process and research.

    Requirements: Ph.D. in Finance, Economics, or related discipline required Minimum of 2-3 years investment industry required; CFA preferred but not required Prior empirical research experience required Knowledge of and interest in finance/investments and willingness to learn new aspects of investing Understanding of and ability to perform empirical work in finance using SAS (preferred)/Matlab/R Excellent verbal/written communications skills Ability to communicate complex concepts easily Ability to listen to and observe others, identify hidden concerns/misunderstanding and address appropriately Exceptional quantitative ability and knowledge

    If you are interested in this opening, please email us a copy of your resume as an MS Word attachment.

    Emily Andrews, BCI - Financial Services Recruiting

    10 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 1250, Chicago, IL 60606; 312-460-8111 x106

    emily@brokerageconsultants.com; www.brokerageconsultants.com

  • Senior position at FGV/EPGE
  • Director of Due Diligence -- Southwestern US

    Title: Director of Due Diligence (0792-001-111)

    Location: Southwestern US

    Compensation: Commensurate with Experience

    Summary: Investment Management Company seeks Director of Due Diligence who will serve as a critical member of Capital Markets team, with heavy interaction with broker dealer analysts/due diligence officers and the goal of helping coordinate the due diligence process for new/existing product offerings. Must be able to deliver complex information to a wide array of constituents with a very high level of credibility/expertise. Reports to the SVP of Product and Business Development.

    Responsibilities: Serve as point person for first- and third-party due diligence reviews and collaborate across client?s organization to efficiently provide information requests Work proactively with broker dealers to better assess their due diligence needs, offering customized due diligence information and respond to information requests For in-house broker dealer, perform due diligence reviews on new offerings and anticipate areas of question/focus Work to update/maintain online due diligence information with outside vendors Create innovative due diligence resources for use by broker dealer due diligence officers Assist in bringing new broker dealers into the selling group Participate in industry trade groups/associations and become an active member in such associations Work as part of a team on new product development

    Requirements: 7 to 10 years direct work experience in a related research role required Economics/Finance background required; MBA, CFA a strong plus Familiarity with basic finance and macroeconomics principles, due diligence/analysis, and financial statements Knowledge of retail investment products required; specific alternative investment program exposure a strong plus Experience working with independent broker-dealers a strong plus Ability to relay complex information and collaborate with diverse constituencies in a time-sensitive environment Must be comfortable making client presentations

    If you are interested in this opening, please email us a copy of your resume as an MS Word attachment.

    Emily Andrews,BCI - Financial Services Recruiting; 10 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 1250, Chicago, IL 60606

    312-460-8111 x106; Emily@brokerageconsultants.com; www.brokerageconsultants.com