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Judith Shapiro econ-tutor@lse.ac.uk

UK Undergraduate Economics Research: Can we encourage it better nationally? Could this pay off (for most or all)? Cardiff 10 September 2009. Judith Shapiro econ-tutor@lse.ac.uk. Many “UROPs” and Summer Programmes: local Local but consider how to encourage:

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Judith Shapiro econ-tutor@lse.ac.uk

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  1. UK Undergraduate Economics Research: Can we encourage it better nationally? Could this pay off (for most or all)? Cardiff 10 September 2009 Judith Shapiroecon-tutor@lse.ac.uk

  2. Many “UROPs” and Summer Programmes: local Local but consider how to encourage: Reading, Warwick, Sussex, Cambridge (not economics), others? Stanford 2009 (w/ LSE comparison) “Carroll Round” Conference Georgetown Atlantic Economic Association and Journal Best Undergraduate Paper Competition Origin of Paper is in Envy:Some activities the other side of Atlantic

  3. Peter Smith, “The Undergraduate Dissertation in Economics: a practical guide” chapter in The Handbook for Economics Lecturers also Kim McGoldrick, “Undergraduate Research in Economics” (also Handbook chapter) Added idea today: to encourage further and go beyond dissertation, partly ( not only) to inspire students about economics as a career Fundamental EN resources:

  4. Example: see American Economic Review, Volume 95, No 2, Ronald G. Ehrenburg, “involving Undergraduates in Research to Encourage Them to Undertake PhD Study in Economics Research Time-Consuming for Students and Academic Staff. Given High Opportunity Costs we should be seeking a stronger evidence base. (this is not to question ruling priors: quite the reverse!) Evidence base needs reinforcement

  5. Undergraduate Journal Online only or also some hard copy? Editors? Undergraduate Working Paper Series Online and/or PDF with cover and ISSN Who/how much/ to edit (Annual) Conference Parameters: when, scope, how organised? Competition, even Atlantic Econ Jnl analogue Possibilities to consider:

  6. Highly selective case study “Aid and Public Finance: A Missing Link?” will be one of four Best Undergraduate Paper international finalists at Atlantic Economic Association October conference in Boston. (Cambridge has another of the finalists). Previously atop ward winners, Georgetown University’s April “Carroll Round” conference . Unusal outcome, but indicates possibilities, arguably across a range of UK institutions. Grew out of absolutely voluntary weekly Undergraduate Research Workshop at LSE

  7. TRUE-type resources needed Hardest of all: how to do research Goldilocks problem: Undergraduate guides too vague, PhD suggestions too daunting Examples of what I Recommend: John Creedy, “Starting Research” The Australian Economic Review Don Davis: Ph.D. Thesis Research: Where do I Start?” [Columbia] `Hal Varian, “How to Build an Economic Model in Your Spare Time” for theory Angrist et al informal “how I do” for econometrics

  8. Presentation Summer Research Workshop July 2009 Anders Jensen

  9. Background & motivation Summer internship at Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy Over the summer, read some papers & got some first opinions on a possible research question: link between public finance and foreign aid  In my case, research question emerged not from prior economic knowledge, but from simple curiosity: I had no academic background in this area

  10. Learning process (I) Michaelmas Term: 1st step: find the data! Have a look to see if the big picture “fits” my ideas… World Bank, IMF, Penn tables, UN Statistics, ICRG Get help from the librarians: they are very friendly, and very competent 2nd step: find the relevant literature: To make sure the question hadn’t already been answered And, to find some ‘benchmark’ papers (this was a great help to me) 3rd step: presenting in the Research workshop: useful and a great learning experience

  11. Learning process (II) End of Michaelmas/beginning Lent: 1) Question: what format do I want this piece of research to take? How far am I willing to go? (that is, how much time am I willing to dedicate?) 2) Answer: Carroll Round (will come back to this), helpful to work towards a deadline exogenously imposed upon us 3) By then, project became teamwork (Markus Gstoettner): previously sceptic of working with someone else, am now convinced it can be a great advantage: Can do twice as much in same amount of time! Lonely nights in the library: mutually motivating…

  12. Output (I) End of Lent: submitted unfinished research to Carroll Round Beginning of April holidays: took 5 days with Markus to finalise the paper

  13. Output (II) 1) Carroll Round: Undergraduate competition, hosted by Georgetown University Students from all over the world Organised like a seminar: formal presentations reviewed by professor and students, discussions Enriching experience: Helpful feedback concerning our paper Meet other undergrads driven by same interests Get to travel! Won a book signed by Taleb (!) 2) Atlantic Economic Journal undergraduate competition: -paper submitted -if chosen, presentation at Annual conference in Boston in October -possibility of publishing in academic journal

  14. Advice It really can be done: Did not have any particular knowledge in the area of research: learn as you go along Took up some consequent time, but manageable (motivation-driven) Mutual feedback between 2nd year academics (Econometrics, Macro) and this ongoing project

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