Exam scheduling can have a long-term impact on both students’ choice of majors and their future earnings. The finding comes from “Persevere or Pivot? The Causal Impact of Grade Shocks on the College Major Decision,” a new paper by Annabel Thorton, a PhD candidate with the Department of Economics. Thorton’s research project looked at random variations in exam timetable characteristics to estimate the effect of grade shocks on students’ major choices. She found that when students write two exams close together, they tend to do more poorly on the second one, resulting in a student’s course grade to drop by approximately 1%. That 1% drop in grade value, a grade shock, then reduced the likelihood of a student majoring in that subject by 11%. Thorton’s data comes from all first-year Faculty of Arts and Sciences students at the University of Toronto. [Read more…]
The Experienced MA: Graduand LJ Valencia
In their final year, with convocation on the horizon, many undergraduates talk about coming back to university for a graduate degree after they work for a few years and put some money in their pockets. New grad LJ Valencia now knows exactly what it’s like to see that plan through. A proud Edmontonian, Valencia came to UofT to complete his MA in September of 2023 after working for three years upon his graduation from the University of Alberta with a degree in economics and political science. Torn between thoughts of joining the job market and graduate studies, he decided to take some time and consider his options.
“I actually graduated in 2020 into a job market that was really tough,” Valencia remembered. I was lucky, though. First, I worked at Western Economic Diversification Canada. We worked on projects to inform policy direction and federal investments to diversify Western Canada’s economy. Later, I moved to the Bank of Canada where I was a research assistant for two years, working in a software project and the short-term Real GDP forecasting team.” [Read more…]
Understanding Teaching-Track Professors in Economics
“The University of Toronto’s Department of Economics has the best economics teaching-track program in the world.” That’s not a self-congratulatory statement. The praise comes from Avi J. Cohen, University Professor Emeritus of York University, past 3M Teaching Fellowship recipient, a member of the American Economic Association Committee on Economic Education (AEA-CEE) and, currently, Adjunct Professor of Economics here at the University of Toronto. [Read more…]
Professor Diego Restuccia Elected to Econometric Society
The Econometric Society has elected Professor Diego Restuccia to the rank of fellow. Elected by their colleagues, fellows of the international society are honoured not only for their work in the field, but for noteworthy service to the Econometric Society itself. This service includes editorial responsibilities, conference organization, or Econometric Society committee membership among other opportunities.
“The department is very proud of Diego Restuccia’s many accomplishments here in Canada and internationally,” said Professor Ettore Damiano, Chair of the Department of Economics. “It is wonderful to see Diego receive this recognition from one of the most prestigious organizations in our discipline.” [Read more…]
Communicating Resilience: Tips and Tools from the Economics Community
Staff member Adriano De Oliveira Macedo is a culture of wellness champion at the Department of Economics. Since earning a certificate in the Science of Well-Being, he has been behind several initiatives designed to promote positive mental health habits and resilience building among members of the economics community at the University of Toronto. In March, he designed and implemented a weeklong program of micro-events centred around International Day of Happiness. These micro-events engaged students, staff, and faculty in brief, fun-filled activity moments in which they shared their positive mottos, shared chocolate, and learned more about turning evidence-based keys to happiness.
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