DECEMBER 2024 NEWSLETTER CONNECT • INSPIRE • EMPOWER
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Dear Alumni and Friends,
The fall semester has brought both achievements and challenges, but there is much to celebrate. We are proud of the faculty members who have recently been recognized for their expertise and commitment to the field. We are also excited to have the largest-ever cohort of students—undergraduate and graduate—studying economics this year. This growth is a testament to the broad appeal of our field and the strength of our department. Economics students now make up 16% of the Dornsife undergraduate population, while MS AEE students represent 40% of the Dornsife Master’s student body, and Economics PhD candidates account for 6% of the Dornsife doctoral candidates.
We are also deeply grateful for the ongoing support of our alumni, who continue to contribute their time and resources. Together, we are cultivating a dynamic and thriving learning community that benefits students, faculty, and the broader field of economics.
I am thrilled to share these updates and look forward to sharing how these changes will shape our academic environment. I hope these developments inspire you to stay connected and engaged. Wishing you a joyful holiday season, and I look forward to staying in touch.
Warmly,
Caroline
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Assistant Professor, Monica Morlacco: Expert on Tariffs and Global Trade
Due to recent political proposals and policies, Assistant Professor Monica Morlacco was featured in the Los Angeles Times, NBC News, and CNBC discussing the impact of tariffs on global trade, consumer prices, and jobs.
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So-Cal Alumni Happy Hour
Organized by Leticia Lujan ’02, Ani Geragosian ’18, and Abraham Solovy ’22, alumni gathered for an Economics Alumni Happy Hour at Foretti’s in Corona Del Mar. Attendees had a chance to reconnect with old friends, reminisce about their time at USC, and make new professional connections in a relaxed atmosphere. Watch Eventbrite to stay up to date with future Econ Alumni Events in your city, including West LA in January!
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Women in Economics Fall Forum
The annual Women in Economics Fall Forum brought students together with successful economics alumnae for an evening of valuable career insights and networking opportunities. Students were encouraged to come with questions and join the discussion, offering an opportunity for growth and collaboration.
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NEW MASTER'S IN ECONOMICS AND DATA SCIENCE
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Introducing the MS in Economics and Data Science (MECDS)
Recognizing this rapidly growing and ever-expanding field, the department is launching a STEM-designated Master’s in Economics and Data Science (MECDS) in collaboration with the Viterbi School of Engineering. In this innovative program, students will have an opportunity to tackle large-scale datasets, apply modern empirical techniques, and conduct sophisticated economic analyses to solve real-world problems.
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Jonathan Libgober is a microeconomic theorist specializing in the economics of information. His research focuses on how learning and information arrival shapes economic interactions and guides the design of incentives. The Raubenheimer Faculty Award is one of USC Dornsife’s highest faculty honors celebrating achievement in research, teaching, and service to the university.
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Professor Thomas Chaney recognized as a Fellow of the Econometrics Society
Thomas Chaney is a macroeconomist whose research explores international trade. Managing Editor at the Review of Economic Studies, he is a member of the European Economic Association Council and a Research Fellow at both the Center for Economic Policy Research and CESifo Research Network. The Econometric Society elects Fellows to recognize significant contributions to Economics and represents the highest authority of the Society.
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Director of Undergraduate Studies
Ladan Masoudie, PhD ’08, Associate Professor (Teaching) of Economics
Professor Masoudie has been with the department for more than ten years teaching courses in macro and microeconomics. To introduce students to the real-world power of microeconomics, she is involved in collaborative projects with nonprofit organizations in which students work on financial literacy projects with underrepresented entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Los Angeles area. Ladan’s research interests center on empirical analyses of risk-taking behavior in financial decision-making.
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Director of Undergraduate Mentorship
Ergin Bayrak, PhD ‘09, Associate Professor (Teaching) of Economics
Professor Bayrak is directing the Easterlin Fellows program and is the faculty advisor for both the Economics Association and the Economics Review. Before his Economics appointment, he was a lecturer and Scholar in Residence with the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and a Research Associate with the USC Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE). His research spans auctions, game theory, matching theory, and economic impact and risk analysis, with a particular focus on how these concepts apply to modern communication and technology sectors.
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Director of Doctoral Studies
Giorgio Coricelli, Professor of Economics and Psychology
Professor Coricelli specializes in neuroeconomics, bridging neuroscience, psychology, and economics to understand human decision-making. He completed his undergraduate studies at La Sapienza University in Rome. Earning his PhD at the University of Arizona, he studied with Vernon Smith, the founding father of experimental economics, just before Smith being awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics. Coricelli’s research interests span neuroeconomics, experimental economics, and game theory. Founder of the Neuroeconomics Lab at USC, he is on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Economic Psychology, Science Advances, Frontiers in Decision Neuroscience, and Revue d'économie politique.
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ECONOMICS OPPORTUNITY FUND
We can't do any of this without your support. Every gift makes an impact.
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- $500 funds five Ph.D. application fees for Easterlin Fellows
- $1,000 funds one undergraduate peer tutor for one semester
- $3,000 funds one undergrad student as a research assistant for one semester
- $18,000 funds one graduate student as a research assistant for one semester
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Your investment in the Economics Opportunity Fund yields the most priceless dividend: academic excellence!
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GET INVOLVED
Stay Connected, Celebrate Success, and Build Our Community!
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