IUP Economics Department News

Sissoko Presents on “Current Account Sustainability of ECOWAS Countries”

Mr. Bruce V. Dries bvdries — 2009-10-28T14:54:00Z

Dr. Yaya Sissoko of the Department of Economics presented a research paper entitled “Current Account Sustainability of ECOWAS Countries,” coauthored with Niloufer Sohrabji, at the sixty-eighth International Atlantic Economic Society annual conference held in Boston, Mass., October 8-11, 2009.

In addition, Dr. Sissoko chaired the session on the “Exchange Rate Impacts on International Finance” and discussed the paper “Capital Inflows and Real Exchange Rate Misalignment: The Case of India” by Niloufer Sohrabji at the conference.

Economics Faculty Members Attend CEE-NAEE Conference

Mr. Bruce V. Dries bvdries — 2009-10-19T14:54:00Z

Dr. Stephanie Brewer Jozefowicz and Dr. James Jozefowicz of the Department of Economics attended the Council for Economic Education/National Association of Economic Educators/Global Association of Teachers of Economics Annual Conference held in Washington, D.C., October 7–10, 2009.

Dr. Brewer Jozefowicz serves as secretary of the National Association of Economic Educators Executive Committee, and Dr. Jozefowicz serves as cochair of the National Association of Economic Educators Professional Development Committee.

Sissoko Publishes on the Brazilian Real Crisis of January 1999

Mr. Bruce V. Dries bvdries — 2009-09-23T14:54:00Z

“Military Expenditure, External Debt, and Financial Turmoil: The Case of Brazil,” coauthored by Yaya Sissoko (Department of Economics, IUP) and Mete Feridun (Department of Banking and Finance, Cyprus International University), was published in the Fall 2008 issue of Pennsylvania Economic Review.

Radell Presents on Cuba’s Sugar Industry at Cuban Economic Conference

Mr. Bruce V. Dries bvdries — 2009-09-02T14:54:00Z

Willard Radell of the Department of Economics presented his paper “Economic Logic in Cuba’s 2002 Sugar Industry Re-structuring?” at the nineteenth annual conference of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy in Miami, Florida, from July 30 to August 1, 2009.

The theme of the conference was “Cuba in a World of Uncertainty.” The Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies of the University of Miami cosponsored the conference.

Meredith '06 and Jozefowicz Publish on County Unemployment Rates in Pennsylvania

Mr. Bruce V. Dries bvdries — 2009-08-14T14:54:00Z

“The Keystone Puzzle: The Impact of Employment Growth and Structural Factors on County Unemployment Rates in Pennsylvania,” coauthored by Neil R. Meredith ’06 and James J. Jozefowicz, was published in the Fall 2008 issue of Pennsylvania Economic Review.

Department of Economics

Brewer, Kelley ’03, and Jozefowicz Publish “Blueprint for Success in the U.S. Film Industry”

Mr. Bruce V. Dries bvdries — 2009-08-14T14:54:00Z

“A Blueprint for Success in the U.S. Film Industry,” co-authored by Stephanie M. Brewer, Jason M. Kelley ’03, and James J. Jozefowicz was published in the February 2009 issue of Applied Economics.

Department of Economics

Economics Faculty Members and Students Attend PEA Conference

Mr. Bruce V. Dries bvdries — 2009-06-15T14:54:00Z

Drs. Sarah Jackson, James Jozefowicz, Stephanie Jozefowicz, and Yaya Sissoko, along with three Economics majors, attended the Pennsylvania Economic Association held in West Chester, Pa., beginning on June 5, 2009, at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Sarah Jackson presented “Assessing the Impact of Family Aid on College Persistence.”

Dr. James Jozefowicz was elected immediate past president of PEA. He also served as session chair/discussant at the conference.

Dr. Stephanie Jozefowicz was elected secretary of PEA. She also served as session chair/discussant at the conference.

Dr. Yaya Sissoko presented the following at the conference: “Optimum Currency Areas and Synchronization of Business Cycles in Sub-Saharan Africa;” “South Africa’s Evolving Competitiveness Exposure in U.S. Import Markets,” co-authored with David Yerger; and “The Impact and Length of the Exchange Rate Fluctuations on U.S. Imported Crude Oil Pricing: An Exchange Rate Pass-Through and VAR Model Analysis,” co-authored with Jui-Chi Huang (Penn State Berks, Reading PA). He was also elected to the Board of Directors of PEA.

In addition, students Antonio Ayllon, Stephanie Bearjar, and Aleta Haflett attended the conference and presented their papers from the IUP Undergraduate Scholars Forum.

Economics Students Participate in Undergraduate Scholars Forum

Mr. Bruce V. Dries bvdries — 2009-06-15T14:54:00Z

The following Economics students presented their research at the fourth annual IUP Undergraduate Scholars Forum held on April 7, 2009:

Antonio Ayllon: “A Cross-Section Analysis of Variation in Crime Rates in the Counties of Pennsylvania.” He was mentored by Dr. James J. Jozefowicz.
Stephanie Bearjar: “Income Inequality and Population Growth Rates: An Analysis of Post-Industrial Europe.” Stephanie won the Best in Session award for the “Topics in Applied Economics” session at the forum. She was mentored by Dr. James J. Jozefowicz.
Vernon Brundage: “Downfall or Difference? Examining the Role of Parents/Guardians in the Success of African American Students’ Pursuit of Higher Education.” He was mentored by Dr. James J. Jozefowicz.
Matthew Celestin: “Brazil: Road to Economic Development.” He was mentored by Dr. Yaya Sissoko. (Note: Matthew is an Economics minor.)
Joshua Gerwick: “Pay for Performance: A Study of Factors that Influence CEO Compensation.” He was mentored by Dr. Stephanie M. Jozefowicz.
Aleta Haflett: "In Poor Health: An Analysis of Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates in Pennsylvania Counties." She was mentored by Dr. Stephanie M. Jozefowicz.
Mark Jackson: “Economic Reforms and Poverty Alleviation: Case of India.” He was mentored by Dr. Yaya Sissoko.
Boris Tanny: “Facing Economic Development: Cote d’Ivoire.” He was mentored by Dr. Yaya Sissoko.

Julian, Yerger, and Hall Present Results on Rural Pennsylvania's Labor Force

Mr. Bruce V. Dries bvdries — 2009-06-12T14:54:00Z

Professors Jack Julian and David Yerger, along with economics major C. Elizabeth Hall, presented two papers at the Business and Economics Research Conference in Las Vegas, Nev., in September 2008.

The papers were results of research supported by a grant from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Both papers, “Rural Pennsylvania Underemployment and Its Determinants” and “Estimating Core Unemployable and Workforce Non-Participants: A Study for Rural Pennsylvania’s Labor Force,” were accepted for publication in the Journal of Business and Economics Research, forthcoming in 2009.

Jozefowicz published in International Advances in Economic Research

Mr. Bruce V. Dries bvdries — 2008-08-22T14:54:00Z

“The Effects of Immigration on Regional Unemployment Rates in The Netherlands,” coauthored by James J. Jozefowicz and Rebecca M. Galloway ’06, was published in the August issue of International Advances in Economic Research.

Jozefowicz and Ali Cannoni ’07 published in New York Economic Review

Mr. Bruce V. Dries bvdries — 2008-08-08T14:54:00Z

“Income Inequality and Educational Attainment Rates: The New York Story,” coauthored by James Jozefowicz and Ali Cannoni ’07, has been accepted for publication by the New York Economic Review.

Center Promotes Understanding of Economics

Mrs. Elaine Smith ejacobs — 2008-06-17T14:54:00Z

First Commonwealth, EconomicsPennsylvania and Indiana University of Pennsylvania are committed to helping students make sense of economics.

Officials from the three entities signed a memorandum of understanding in January 2008 to formally establish the First Commonwealth Center for Economic Education at IUP.

“The mission of Economics Pennsylvania is to ensure that every young person in Pennsylvania understands essential economic concepts, is able to use economic ways of thinking and problem-solving, and has a solid grasp of the nature and structure of the national and global economy,” explained EconomicsPennsylvania President and CEO Fritz Heinemann.

IUP economics faculty members have worked with EconomicsPennsylvania for the past several years to offer summer programming to high school students and teachers to enhance economic education at the secondary level.

With this new financial support from First Commonwealth, the First Commonwealth Center for Economic Education at IUP aims to increase community awareness and teacher and student participation in all of EconomicsPennsylvania economic, financial and investment literacy initiatives.

In addition, the College of Education and Educational Technology and the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology will join the College of Humanities and Social Sciences in the program. The First Commonwealth funding also will afford a dedicated staff person from EconomicsPennsylvania to work with the First Commonwealth Center for Economic Education at IUP in an expanded geographic region.

“We appreciate the opportunity to continue our relationship with EconomicsPennsylvania and First Commonwealth in order to better serve the needs of students and teachers in our region,” said Dr. Tony Atwater, IUP president. “IUP is in a unique position to serve as a resource for enhanced economic education for the western Pennsylvania community.

“First Commonwealth has a pattern of outstanding support for IUP and for enhanced educational opportunities for this region through the university, most recently in the establishment of the First Commonwealth Endowed Lecture Series. The First Commonwealth Center for Economic Education is another demonstration of First Commonwealth’s commitment to this region and enhancing the teaching and learning experience for the commonwealth.”

“First Commonwealth always exemplifies our dedication to the people and communities in which we live, work and raise our families. We are financial stewards for those we serve,” said T. Michael Price, president, First Commonwealth Bank.

“We are proud to partner with EconomicsPennsylvania and IUP, providing students and teachers with the knowledge and capability to be financially successful throughout their lives.”

EconomicsPennsylvania was launched as a not-for-profit organization in 1978. The board of directors consists of representatives from business, education, labor, agriculture and government. One of the best-known curriculum initiatives developed by EconomicsPennsylvania is the Stock Market Game.

CHSS Alumni Ambassador 2007

Dr. Nicholas Karatjas — 2008-01-31T14:54:00Z

Congratulations to Mrs. Chrystina (Black) Steffy ’03 who has been selected as the College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ Alumni Ambassador for 2007. During Homecoming Weekend in October, Chrystina will be visiting economics classes and will be participating in Homecoming activities. The Alumni Ambassador Awards program was established to make current students aware of the outstanding achievements of recent graduates.