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Announcements for Friday, March 2, 2012

Announcements

  • Spring break hours

    The Department of Economics Administrative Office will observe shortened hours (7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) during Spring Break (March 12 – 16).

  • Important mail service information

    Beginning Monday, March 5, the U.S. Postal Service will no longer deliver the mail to Heady Hall. As is the case with most of campus, ISU Postal & Parcel will bring the U.S. mail to our building along with the campus mail. As a result you should notice two changes. The mail will likely be delivered about an hour later, approximately 11:00 am. In addition, they will no longer process your stamped personal mail. You will need to take this to a U.S.P.S. box, the closest on campus being in the Memorial Union or in front of Kildee Hall.

  • Friday EGSA event at Welch Avenue Station

    We are just about halfway through the semester now, so take a break this Friday (March 2) and join EGSA at Welch Avenue for food and drinks. We’ve got a section reserved from 5-8, and we’ll plan to start arriving around 5:30. Hope to see you there!

News

  • Essay on NBA star Lin's appearance features Rosenblat and Mobius' work on the psychology of beauty

    Could appearance have played a role in NBA star's Jeremy Lin's initial struggle for recognition? An essay in The New Yorker Magazine by James Surowiecki explores the possibility that Lin was overlooked by the NBA because his appearance as an Asian-American was unexpected. Tanya Rosenblat and Markus Mobius' work on the psychology of appearance and beauty is featured in this essay. Read the full piece at: http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2012/03/05/120305ta_talk_surowiecki

  • Three economics department undergrads receive Wallace E. Barron Award

    Three of the five seniors awarded the prestigious Wallace E. Barron University Senior Award for 2012 have majors from the Department of Economics.

    Those awardees include Scott Henry (pictured left) of Nevada, Iowa, who majored in ag business, international agriculture and finance; Amy Peyton (pictured center) of Sac City, Iowa, who majored in ag business, economics, international agriculture, and public service and administration; and Sam Bird (pictured right) of Ames, Iowa, who majored in economics and global resource systems. Learn more about each by clicking on their names.

    The Iowa State University Alumni Association established this award in 1968 to recognize outstanding seniors who display high character, outstanding achievement in academics and university/community activities, and promise for continuing these exemplary qualities as alumni. The award is named for Wallace E. "Red" Barron (Class of '28), who served as director of alumni affairs at Iowa State from 1937 to 1968. Awardees receive recognition and the Official Iowa State University Ring, compliments of the ISU Alumni Association. Two to five awards are granted annually.

  • Swenson testifies on TIF reform at Iowa State House

    Dave Swenson, associate scientist in economics, testified this week before the Iowa House Ways and Means subcommittee on Tax Increment Finance (TIF) reform. TIF is a mechanism for financing city economic development, but has come under scrutiny by the General Assembly because of suspected abuses and over-use of the authority (most notoriously in Coralville).

    Swenson's testimony was requested based upon research that he and Liesl Eathington, assistant scientist for ReCAP, conducted on the use of TIF among Iowa's cities. Read studies by Swenson and Eathington conducted in 2002 and 2006 at:

    www.econ.iastate.edu/research/webpapers/paper_4094_N0138.pdf

    www.econ.iastate.edu/research/webpapers/paper_12586.pdf

    Read Swenson's briefing paper on TIF at: www.econ.iastate.edu/sites/default/files/publications/papers/p14935-2012-02-27.pdf

  • Weekly media connections for the Department of Economics

    Mike Duffy spoke with Dan Piffer with the DM Register on changes in costs of production and distribution of Iowa farmers. He also spoke with Katherine Harbin, of the Xinhua News Agency (China's version of the Associated Press), about land values and investment.

    Chad Hart spoke with Tim Hoskins, Iowa Farmer Today, on the projected size of the 2012 corn crop, given expected acreage and trend yields. Additional contacts for Hart:

    • Frank Morris, KCUR Radio, on how the agricultural economy moves differently than the overall economy.
    • Dan Pillar, Des Moines Register, on 2012 crop production costs and land rental rates.

    Dave Swenson was interviewed today by Donnelle Eller, a business reporter with The Des Moines Register, on a potential data farm in Nebraska that Iowa officials are interested in competing for. He was questioned as to how likely it is that a data farm -- like either Google or Microsoft -- would yield spin-off jobs. He was also interviewed by Adam Belz, a reporter with The Des Moines Register, on research Iowa State economists did in cooperation with CIRAS on the SE Iowa economy, and in particular, Lee County and their long-time chronic high unemployment levels and the decline in manufacturing jobs.

     

Graduate Student Announcements

  • 2012 UChicago Summer School on Socioeconomic Inequality

    We are delighted to announce the 1st Annual Summer School on Socioeconomic Inequality (SSSI 2012), to be hosted by the University of Chicago from July 9-15 under the direction of Steven N. Durlauf and James J. Heckman.

    SSSI 2012 is supported by the Institute for New Economic Thinking Global Working Group on Human Capital and Economic Opportunity

    (http://mfi.uchicago.edu/humcap/hc.shtml) and the Becker-Friedman Institute (http://mfi.uchicago.edu).

    The summer school is open to PhD candidates from around the world. There is no cost to participation, and room and board will be provided to participants. Students are expected to meet their individual transportation costs. The admitted class will be restricted to 25-30 students. Applications may be submitted at the summer school website:

    https://ineqss.uchicago.edu/ and are due April 15, 2012.

    Please direct any questions to Jennifer Pachon (jennifer.b.pachon@gmail.com) or Steven Durlauf (sdurlauf@ssc.wisc.edu).

  • Seeking applications for summer Econ internship at FTC

    The Bureau of Economics at the US Federal Trade Commission is seeking applications for summer internships. Applicants must be US citizens, detail oriented, highly motivated by the FTC's antitrust and/or consumer protection mission, and show an interest in economics, mathematics, or statistics. Applications from undergraduate, masters level, and PhD students are all welcome. Internships may be paid, subject to availability of funds. To apply, e-mail a resume, cover letter, and a copy of your unofficial transcripts to: hrmoemployment@ftc.gov. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

    Deadline: 5 PM, Friday, March 23, 2012; contact Alvina Brooks with questions at: abrooks1@ftc.gov

Conferences and Calls for Papers

  • 2nd Annual International Conference on MME: Call for Papers

    More information available at: http://mm-economics.org

Funding Opportunities

Job Opportunities

  • Postdoctoral research associate - USDA

    The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory, is seeking a POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, (Research Agricultural Scientist/Agronomist/Agricultural Engineer/Ecologist) for a TWO YEAR APPOINTMENT. Ph.D. is required. Salary is commensurate with experience ($57,408.00 - $89,450.00 per annum) plus benefits. Citizenship restrictions apply. The incumbent will assess oilseed biofuel feedstock supply across the western U.S. for regionalized strategies integrating sustainable oilseed production into existing farms. Knowledge of GIS software, agricultural production economics, geography, econometric discrete choice analysis, crop simulation modeling, and ability to manipulate large databases is desirable. Refer to: http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/hrd/jobs/postdocs/pd962.html for further information on Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs, for complete application instructions, and the full text announcement(RA-12-013H). Send application materials and references to Dr. David Archer, USDA/ARS/NGPRL P.O. Box 459, 1701 10th Avenue, SW, Mandan, ND 58554 or e-mail david.archer@ars.usda.gov. USDA/ARS is an equal opportunity provider and employer.