James Macek, a PhD candidate with the Department of Economics, has won the Bank of Canada’s Best Graduate Student Paper Award. Macek’s research into housing policy and affordability examines how re-thinking minimum lot size and building smaller housing units could eliminate the housing shortage and reduce the cost of buying a home by 17%.
“It’s an incredible honour to receive this award from the Bank of Canada,” Macek said. “I’d like to thank my supervisor Nathaniel Baum-Snow, advisors William Strange, Kevin Lim, Joseph Steinberg, the faculty, and colleagues. I could not have achieved this without their tremendous support, care, and collaborative discussion. They make me feel valued.”
The Bank of Canada makes this award each year at a workshop held at its headquarters to promote high-quality research in subject areas relevant to its mandate. The award is open to Permanent Canadian Residents who are PhD students at any institution in the world and to all PhD students enrolled at Canadian universities.
“The Department of Economics is consistently proud of the achievements of our PhD candidates in the broader community. James Macek’s research into how policy changes can make housing more affordable is relevant to everyone,” said Professor Ettore Damiano, Chair of the department. “I am pleased the Bank of Canada has recognized James’ accomplishments and, on behalf of all our faculty, offer him our heartiest congratulations.”
Earlier this year, Macek’s paper also received an honourable mention at the European Meeting of the Urban Economics Association in Copenhagen.
Return to the Department of Economics website.
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