The UMass Wind Energy Center held its 40th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, June 6, 2014. The presentation by Professor James Boyce and Professor Robert Pollin titled “Renewable Energy and an Egalitarian Clean Energy Program for the U.S. Economy” outlined the positive economic effects of building a clean energy economy. For more information about the Wind Energy Center, see:
http://www.umass.edu/windenergy/
Author: econnews
Professor Arindrajit Dube was one of five debaters on the The New York Times Room for Debate opinion page. Dube states that “the best evidence suggests that state and federal minimum wage increases have had a very small impact on employment, while moderately reducing turnover, poverty and inequality.” Read more…
Professor emerita Nancy Folbre received the Beth Shulman Award from the National Employment Law Project in recognition of her scholarship and leadership promoting employment issues of special concern to low-wage and women workers. Named for a champion of low-wage worker rights and former board president of the National Employment Law Project who passed away suddenly several years ago, the Beth Shulman Award was presented to Folbre on April 30th in Washington, D.C.
Professor Gerald Friedman was a panelist at the May 21st summit hosted by Senator Bernie Sanders. Titled “Single Payer: Where Do We Go from Here?” the summit discussed the transition to a health care system offering universal access. Held in Washington, D.C., other panelists included: Robert Weissman, President, Public Citizen, Washington, District of Columbia; Dr. Margaret Flowers, PopularResistance.org, Baltimore, Maryland; Dr. Andrew Coates, President, Physicians for a National Health Program, Albany, New York; and Michael Lighty, Director of Public Policy, National Nurses United, Oakland, California.
Mwangi wa Githinji, assistant professor of economics, has been selected for the 2014 College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award. Recognized for his exceptional teaching, he is held in high esteem by students and colleagues alike. Wa Githinji is a well-known authority on African development. Read more…
The Institute for Social Science Research has selected Assistant Professor Dania Francis, Economics and Afro-American Studies, as one of six faculty members to serve as its 2014-15 scholars. The proposal that Francis will pursue is titled “Non-Cognitive Skills in Education.” Read more…
Professor Arindrajit Dube comments appeared in the Huffington Post regarding the report from the Congressional Budget Office on the economic cost of a $10.10 minimum wage. Dube states that the CBO “put their thumb on the scale a little bit” and “the CBO report puts too much weight on lower quality studies.”
Each year the department, college, and university award scholarships to deserving students. Scholarship funding comes almost entirely from the generous gifts of our alumni and friends and are intended to recognize the hard work and academic success of our students, as a well as assist them with the expense of their education. This year 21 economics undergraduates were recognized with 26 departmental awards. We congratulate our students on their achievements and thank our alumni and friends for their support.
Timur Abduljalil ’14– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Jonathan Berke ’14– Economics Writing Award
Elysia Eastty ’15– E.W. Eldridge Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Cameron Kackley ’14– Highest Academic Achievement Award
Ryan King ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Keith Kittelson ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Alexander Kniazev ’14– E.W. Eldridge Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Shawn LeLievre ’14– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Alexander Major ’14– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship, Economics Alumni Award for Distinguished Service, & Ward McCarthy Scholarship for Interns
Katelynn Mann ’15– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Timothy Martin ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Vickash Mohanka ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Ken Naeh ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship & Highest Academic Achievement Award
Victoria Pfenninger ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Eric Popp ’15– Ward McCarthy Scholarship for Interns
Ariel Richman ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
James Santucci ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Luke Seaberg ’14– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship & Economics Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement
Sanjay Singh ’13– Economics Alumni Award for Distinguished Service & James Kindahl Award
Collin Whittier ’15– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
In her regularly featured New York Times Economix blog, UMass Prof Nancy Folbre 
draws on new research by UMass’s James Crotty to look at the large bonus payments to bankers, even in the years of the finance-led crash.
Banker Bonus Rain by Nancy Folbre Wall Street firms have always been famous for their generous bonuses to managers and traders — their so-called rainmakers. …What is especially striking is the high level of these bonuses in 2007 and 2008, years in which profits were negative. [Read the rest at http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/banker-bonus-rain/]
M. V. Lee Badgett of the Department of Economics and Center for Public Policy and Administration has been chosen to present a Distinguished Faculty Lecture. Her presentation, entitled “From I Can’t To I Do: When Gay People Get Married,” will be held on Monday, November 9th at 4:00 pm in the Bernie Dallas Room, Goodell Building. Free and open to all. A reception follows the lecture. Professor Badgett will receive the Chancellor’s Medal, the highest honor bestowed on individuals for exemplary and extraordinary service to the campus. The lecture series is sponsored by the offices of the Chancellor and the Provost.
More information on Professor Badgett’s upcoming Distinguished Faculty Lecture at http://www.umass.edu/umhome/events/articles/93200.php
Other appearances by Professor Badgett
THORNES MARKETPLACE: “Lesbian and Gay Families” – Discussion with authors Abbie Goldberg and Lee Badgett Thursday, October 22, 6 p.m., Impish, 2nd floor, 150 Main St., Northampton.