Three Duke University students — including senior Aron Rimanyi, who majors in political science and economics, with a minor in mathematics — have been named Schwarzman Scholars, a program that funds one year of study in Beijing, China. read more about Three Duke Students Named Schwarzman Scholars »
During the recent federal tax debate, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said, "We have to do for the nation what we did for North Carolina because it worked." However, Professor Juan Carlos Suárez Serrato said North Carolina is not outpacing its neighbors in any distinguishable way. read more about Republicans, Democrats Point to N.C. — for Different Reasons — in Federal Tax Debate »
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said on Nov. 29 that the Senate's tax proposal will help most Americans who earn less than $70,000 a year. Professor Juan Carlos Suárez Serrato gives insight into how North Carolinians could be impacted by the elimination of state and local tax deductions. read more about NC Sen. Tillis Says Play Won't Raise Taxes on Americans Earning $30K - $70K a Year »
At a Duke Financial Economics Center (DFE) Lunch & Learn on Nov. 10, host Louis-Vincent Gave (B.A. ’96) covered a wide range of topics, from his take on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s second-term priorities to tax reform and the rise of populism in the United States. However, the main theme he stressed to the small group of sophomores and juniors was more personal. “If I can leave you with one message today, it would be: Get to know yourself; do lots of introspection.” Gave, who studied economics, history, and Chinese… read more about DFE Lunch & Learn Series Presents Opportunities for Students and Alumni in Finance to Learn, Connect »
Professor Charles Clotfelter's new book explores how colleges were not created equal — and how pressures have driven them to be even less so in recent decades. Inside Higher Ed interviews Clotfelter on the unequal higher ed landscape. read more about Growing Less Equal »
Zhongxia Jin, the IMF executive director for China, discussed the country's financial development in recent years as part of the Rethinking Development Seminar Series. Lin Zhao, a second-year Duke Economics master's student and Chinese native, offered his thoughts on the event. read more about IMF Executive Director Talks Chinese Financial Sector, Renminbi »
The annual Forbes 30 under 30 list includes 600 "young stars" under age 30 in 20 different industries, including 11 former Duke students. Duke Economics alumni Michael Dechert (B.S. '10) and Tom Dadon (B.S. '13) were recognized for their work in the finance industry. read more about Forbes 30 Under 30 List Includes 11 Former Duke Students »
In 2017 Duke welcomed more than 1,500 new international students representing 109 countries of primary citizenship. These undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are among the largest and most diverse groups the university has ever welcomed in a single year. read more about Duke's International Student Population Continues to Grow and Diversify »
The latest issue of RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, co-edited by Professor Philip J. Cook, offers new empirical research on the underground gun market that supplies firearms to criminals. read more about New Evidence Shows That Regulating Underground Gun Market is Crucial for Reducing Gun Violence »
Microeconomic Insights, a website that aims to bridge the gap between academic research and public policy, features research from Professor Juan Carlos Suárez Serrato that suggests cuts to corporate taxes are likely to increase inequality. read more about Who Benefits From Corporate Tax Cuts? Evidence From Local U.S. Labor Markets »
Proponents and skeptics debated the value of charter schools in North Carolina at a forum on Monday. Five panelists, including Professor Emerita Helen Ladd, took the stage to offer their expertise. "I am not in favor of competition in the education sector," Ladd said. read more about Should Schools With 'Fs' Be Closed? 5 Disagreements at Debate on NC Charter Schools »
Over the last 40 years, the "richest colleges have become richer, gathering an increasing share of the most in-demand students," writes Professor Charles Clotfelter in an op-ed for The Chronicle of Higher Education. "In short, the leaders of rich colleges have presided over a remarkable increase in inequality." read more about How Rich Universities Get Richer »
To say that alumna Norma Padrón (MAE ’08) is passionate about health is an understatement. Growing up in the Rio Grande Valley, Padrón witnessed firsthand how difficult it was for people to get access to healthcare. McAllen, Texas, where she was born, is one of the most expensive healthcare markets in the country, with the lowest income per capita yet the highest expenditures in healthcare, according to a 2009 article in The New Yorker. “It’s a very poor area, and it was salient that healthcare was unaffordable. It was… read more about Alumni Spotlight: Norma Padrón (MAE '08) »
What would a self-driving car do if its brakes failed as it sped towards pedestrians? An article about AI research cites a Duke study co-authored by Professor Vincent Conitzer which states that some AI systems will need to be equipped with moral reasoning capability before they can be granted autonomy. read more about What Would the Average Human Do? »
A new White House report claims that cutting corporate taxes by 15 percent would boost the average household income, contradicting many economists who say that doing so would mostly help shareholders. Professor Juan Carlos Suárez Serrato comments on the report. read more about Cutting Corporate Taxes to 20% Would Boost Workers’ Income, White House Says »
Professor Thomas Nechyba received the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award during the annual Founders' Day celebration on Friday, Oct. 6. This is the second major teaching award at Duke for Nechyba. read more about Professor Tom Nechyba Receives Teaching Award During Duke University's Founders' Day »
Alumna Yunha Kim (B.S. '11) pitched her meditation app, which offers short, five-minute meditations designed for busy people, on the season premiere of "Shark Tank." read more about 'Shark Tank' Season Premiere: Millennial Passes On Deal With Robert Herjavec, Sir Richard Branson »
The WSJ/THE College Rankings report lists Duke among top five schools that "did extremely well in the two areas that carry the most weight in the rankings: student outcomes and academic resources." Duke tied with Harvard University for the top spot in outcomes, which evaluates graduation rate, reputation, and student financial outcomes. read more about The Colleges Whose Graduates Do Best Financially »
"The AKP is doing massive long-term damage to the Turkish economy ... If the economy is continuing to grow — albeit slowly — one reason is that sky-high interest rates are drawing in short-term investments. This is not a sustainable strategy," said Professor Timur Kuran. read more about What's Behind Turkish Economic Miracle? »
The Brazilian economy did not adjust to trade liberalization as economists would expect. In a column for VoxDev, Professor Rafael Dix-Carneiro and co-author Brian Kovak explain these results and their implications. read more about The Evolving Impact of Trade Liberalization on Wages and Employment in Brazil »
Sophomore Andie Carroll talks about her research into youth music programs with Duke SSRI and El Sistema USA. An economics major at Duke, Carroll’s research with SSRI and coursework are complimenting each other well. read more about A Duke Student's First Foray into Research »
OPEC's effects on the world economy extend far beyond the prices that consumers see at the pump, says new research from Professor Allan Collard-Wexler and co-authors at KU Leuven and UCLA. read more about The Long Arm of OPEC »
Politico's annual list of "50 ideas blowing up American politics (and the people behind them)" spotlights the work of Professor William Darity, Jr. and a colleague, who advocate for the job guarantee. read more about The 'Politico 50' »
In recognition of Labor Day, Duke Today asked several Duke professors — including Professor Vincent Conitzer — to share their thoughts on how artificial intelligence, robotics, and other forces will shape the workplace of the future. read more about The Workplace of the Future »
Professor Vincent Conitzer discusses artificial intelligence and the future of work on WUNC's "The State of Things." read more about The Future of Work »
Local economic shocks induced by the Brazilian trade liberalization had substantial effects on homicides. Professor Rafael Dix-Carneiro and his co-authors examine these effects and attempt to disentangle the mechanisms through which they occurred. read more about Economic Shocks and Crime: Evidence From the Brazilian Trade Liberalization »
A new VoxEU column by Professor Rafael Dix-Carneiro and co-author Brian Kovak (Carnegie Mellon University) examines the various margins of adjustment in response to trade-induced regional shocks. read more about Margins of Labor Market Adjustment to Trade »
This year Orientation Week for 91 incoming Duke Economics master’s students started off with a bang — or, more accurately, a rare astronomical event. On Monday a near-total eclipse of the sun was visible in Durham, with the maximum eclipse taking place shortly after scheduled breakaway group advising sessions. “We plan the department's Orientation Week several months in advance, and it always falls between orientation week for international students and the first week of classes,” said M.A. Program Assistant Addie Stagg. “… read more about Orientation Week Begins for New Master's Students »
A new VoxChina piece by Professors Juan Carlos Suárez Serrato, Daniel Yi Xu, and co-authors Zhao Chen and Zhikuo Liu, summarizes their recent work on how tax incentives for R&D affect investment evasion and total factor productivity. read more about Notching R&D Investment With Corporate Income Tax Cuts in China »
Myxx, a startup borne from Duke Economics alumna Monica Wood's passion for cooking and healthy eating, aims to revolutionize grocery shopping by connecting brands to consumers and transforming recipes into grocery lists. read more about Alumni Spotlight: Monica Wood (MAE '07) »