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Episode 2 of the Econ Job Search Podcast with Caitlin Zhang

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Portrait of Wangying Caitlin Zhang
Mingyang (Caitlin) Zhang Photos: A.Macedo

Mingyang (Caitlin) Zhang is learning everything she can to find her first job before convocation. In the newest episode of the Econ Job Search Podcast, the fourth-year economics and mathematics student spoke with Chloe Linda Chayo. While a student at the University of Toronto, Chloe’s paper for ECO475 placed in the Arthur Hosios Scholarship in Economics.  The Department of Economics spoke with Caitlin about what she learned from Chloe.

Department of Economics (DOE): Chloe is a recent alumna from the class of 2023, so her first job search stories are still very fresh. What did you learn from that freshness of experience? [Read more…]

Carolyn Wilkins Delivers 2025 Berkowitz Lecture

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Carolyn Wilkins giving the 2025 Berkowitz lecture
Carolyn Wilkins Photos: A. Macedo

Global finance leader Carolyn A. Wilkins delivered the 2025 Berkowitz Lecture on March 20th. Wilkins, a visiting senior research scholar at Princeton University’s Griswold Center for Economic Policy Studies delivered the lecture, What have we learned from Central Bank responses to COVID? The lecture referred to the first several months of the pandemic response during her term as a deputy governor at the Bank of Canada that ended in December 2020. Wilkins then went on to become an external member of the Financial Policy Committee of the Bank of England in June 2021. She is currently a visiting senior research scholar at Princeton University’s Griswold Center for Economic Policy Studies.

Wilkins’ analysis of lessons learned included re-visiting inflation forecasts and re-thinking trade offs between output and employment. She also emphasized the need to continuously scan for worrisome interactions between monetary policy and financial stability. Where the central bank was most influential, Wilkins suggested, was in raising the bar on the extraordinary use of monetary policy tools. Finally, she recognized that success does not solely rest on the actions of the central bank. [Read more…]

Announcing the Econ Job Search Podcast with Caitlin Zhang

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An undergraduate degree takes years to complete, but eventually, convocation comes for everyone. And with the approach of graduation, comes the next big life transition: The full-time job search.

Portrait of Wangying Caitlin Zhang
Mingyang (Caitlin) Zhang Photo: A.Macedo

There’s no denying the job search is a daunting task. Mingyang (Caitlin) Zhang decided to deal with its uncertainty by seeking advice. And then sharing that advice with other students.

The Trinity College student was inspired to start The Econ Job Search Podcast with Caitlin Zhang after acting as an economics ambassador during Program Exploration Days, a program created by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences to help students and potential students consider their options. Caitlin will convocate this spring with a double major in Economics and Mathematics.

“Students I spoke to on Program Exploration Day asked what graduates with an economics degree typically do,” Caitlin remembered. “I was unsure of the best answer to this question, so I wanted to explore the topic further by connecting with our alumni and understanding their perspectives on their undergraduate studies and career paths.”

The first episode of the podcast features Caitlin’s interview with class of 2009 economics alumnus Aaron Prakash. Prakash, now a commercial account executive with Salesforce in Sydney, Australia, shared his own experience featuring the need for flexibility and resilience in the search for that first job.

The Department of Economics spoke with Caitlin about her motivation in creating the podcast. [Read more…]

The 2025 Undergraduate Awards of Excellence in Economics

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Group photo of award winners, donors, and faculty who attended the 2025 Undergraduate Awards of Excellence in Economics
Award winners, donors and faculty attended the 2025 Undergraduate Awards of Excellence Photos: A. Macedo

“Just like in Hollywood, it’s awards season at the Department of Economics,” said Professor Michael Baker. Baker, the Associate Chair of Undergraduate Programs, opened the 2025 Undergraduate Awards of Excellence in Economics as comedian Conan O’Brien had opened the Oscars ceremony just a few days before.

The 5 March ceremony at Max Gluskin House recognized the winners of 22 awards with a total value of $35 979.84 in prize money. Award recipients were celebrated for course work completed during the 2023-2024 academic year.  Donors Robert Douglas, Louise Harris and Ilana Hosios, and Patricia Higgins attended the celebration to present certificates to award winners. [Read more…]

James Pesando Memorial Scholarships Awarded for the First Time

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Group photo of award winner Ren Yi Wang, donor Patricia Higgins, award winner Goeun Kang, and department chair Professor Ettore Damiano
Pesando Award winner Ren Yi (Renee) Wang, donor Patricia Higgins, award winner Goeun (Lacrecia) Kang, and Professor Ettore Damiano, Chair of the Department of Economics Photo: A. Macedo

The James Pesando Memorial Scholarship was awarded for the first time on Wednesday, 5 March. The late Professor Emeritus was renowned for his teaching skills and his ability to connect with students in high-enrollment courses. [Read more…]

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