On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the Department of Economics hosted the annual Senior Thesis Presentations in the Reese Room, Smith House. The program was organized and introduced by Professor Carol Clark, and concluded with a dinner reception in the Admissions Grand Hall.
As part of Senior Thesis, three students submitted and presented their theses. Peter Deng, advised by Professor Christopher Hoag, examined how superstition influences the U.S. IPO market and whether cultural beliefs affect the timing and returns of stock offerings. Libby Harris, under the supervision of Professor Brianna Halladay, presented her experimental analysis of risk-taking behavior among collegiate athletes compared to non-athletes, highlighting the impact of competitive environments on decision making. Finally, Tudor Ionescu, advised by Professor Raul Zelada-Aprili, presented his comparative study From Commodity Dependence to Economic Complexity: Navigating Supercycles through Diversification – A Comparison of Chile and South Korea, which analyzed the challenges of commodity dependence and the role of diversification strategies in long-term economic development.
The presentations highlighted themes ranging from financial markets to behavioral economics and international development. It was an engaging evening that showcased the hard work and creativity of our seniors, bringing together families, friends, and faculty to celebrate their accomplishments.
 |
 |
