Western Economics Alum – New Governor of the Bank of Canada

Stephen Poloz (MA., 1979; Ph.D. 1982) has been named Governor of the Bank of Canada for a seven-year term, starting June 3, 2013. David Laidley, chair of the Special Committee of the Board of Directors says "Mr. Poloz has significant knowledge of financial markets and monetary policy issues and extensive management experience." Upon graduating from Western, Poloz spent 14 years at the Bank of Canada rising to the ranks of chief of the research department. He then spent five years with Montreal-based BCA Research. In 1999, he joined Export Development Canada (EDC) as its chief economist and is currently EDC president and chief executive officer.

Polozs' Ph.D. thesis supervisor, Michael Parkin, (now Professor Emeritus at Western) claimed that "as a Ph.D. student, he always said his goal was to be the Bank of Canada governor." His doctoral disseration on the challenges for the conduct of monetary policy arising from exchange rates and global shocks was described by Parkin as a "well-thought-out piece of work" which he remembers three decades later. Poloz will succeed Mark Carney who is leaving the Bank on June 1. (Western News)

Western Economics Alum Top Diplomat in Iraq

Western Economics alum, Stephanie Duhaime (B.A. Economics and BESc, 2003), was appointed as the charge d’affaires of Canada’s newly created diplomatic mission in Iraq on April 1, 2013. Joining the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade as Afghanistan’s Operations Officer in 2005, her efforts earned a great deal of attention within the international community. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, who announced her new role, has claimed that Canadian relations with Iraq are important as the country has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. For further information, see Alumni News.

Western Economics Alum – Reappointed Governor, Reserve Bank of Australia

In April, 2013, Glenn Stevens (M.A., 1985) was reappointed for an additional seven-year term as Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia. Joining the Reserve Bank’s research Department in 1980, he was appointed deputy governor and member of the board in December 2001. He has served as the governor of the Reserve Bank since September 2006. Stevens has been consistently named among the most powerful men at one of the most powerful institutions in Australia. For further information, see Western Alumni.

Congratulations to the T. Merritt Brown and Summer Paper Prize Winners

The 2012 winner of the T. Merritt Brown Thesis Prize valued at $400 is Javier Cano Urbina, currently an Assistant Professor at Florida State University. Created in recognition of the late Professor Brown’s outstanding contributions in econometrics, this prize is awarded to a graduate student who has produced exceptional work deemed appropriate to receive such an honor.

The 2012 winner of the Summer Paper Prize valued at $200 is Peter Foltin. This prize is awarded to the graduate student who, at the end of their second year, produces the best research paper during the summer term. Winners are chosen by the Graduate Awards Committee amongst those nominated by their advisors.

Congratulations to Western Economics’ 2012-2013 Graduate and Undergraduate Teaching Award Winners

Western Economics is pleased to announce that Tim Conley was nominated by the graduate students as Graduate Professor of the Year and Jim MacGee was nominated by the undergraduate students as Undergraduate Professor of the Year. Both will receive commemorative plaques.

Wenya Wang was selected as the 2012-2013 Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) of the Year. Wenya will be awarded a prize of $200 and will receive a commemorative plaque.

 

Nick Kahnert, Diego Salazar and Max Tabord-Meehan were named Tutorial Leaders of the Year by the first year class. Each will be awarded a prize of $100 and all will receive commemorative plaques.

University Students' Council - Teaching Honour Roll Certificate 2011-2012

Congratulations to Jim MacGee, David Rivers, Youngki Shin and John Whalley on receiving a USC Teaching Honour Roll Certificate for the 2011-2012 academic year. This award is given to instructors who receive an accumulated average of 6.3 or higher out of 7 on the first 14 questions of the Western Senate-mandated course and teacher evaluations.

Jim MacGee - 2013 Bank of Canada Governor's Award

Western Economics congratulates Jim MacGee, named as the 2013 recipient of the Bank of Canada's Governor’s Award, which recognizes outstanding academics in areas of research critical to the Bank’s mandate. Governor Mark Carney describes MacGee's work on important issues facing the post-crisis global economy as innovative, establishing him as a leader in his field. Publishing leading-edge research in the areas of consumer bankruptcy and household debt dynamics, the Great Depression, and the evolution of consumer debt markets, the Governor adds that "he has distinguished himself through his ability to effectively bridge the worlds of academia and public policy." MacGee's current research plans focus on the propagation of international economic shocks, the impact of high levels of consumer debt on the effectiveness of monetary policy, and the sources and consequences of changes in consumer debt markets. The award is granted for a two-year, non-renewable term. (Western News)

Western Economics Careers Night

On Wednesday March 27th, Western Economics and the Social Science Student Council will host an Economic Careers Night from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in SSC 2050. Directors of the Economics Graduate Programs, including the new MFE, the Director of the Fanshawe Professional Financial Services Program and several Economics alums will focus remarks on career choices. Directors will inform students about career opportunities arising from their programs including program and course requirements and alumni speakers will offer ideas based on experience. This event is open at no cost to all students at any stage in their programs.

Economics Alums at Deputy Minister University Champion’s Event – Bringing Public Policy to Western

Through a program aimed at strengthening linkages between the Government of Canada and Canadian Universities, three economics alums participated in a speaking event held in various locations across campus on Monday, January 28, 2013. Western’s Deputy Minister University Champion, Bob Hamilton (M.A. Economics 1985), now Deputy Minister of the Environment, spoke on Canada’s environmental policy. Ron Parker (M.A. Economics 1978), Associate Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada was introduced by Western Economics Chair Audra Bowlus and spoke on identifying skill shortages in the labour market. David Moloney (pictured here, Honors B.A. Economics & Political Science, 1977), now Senior Advisor to the Privy Council Office, presented on issues involving the Canada-US Regulatory Cooperation Council.

Western Economic Research Noted - Most Popular Articles

The Journal of Labor Economics has produced a list of their five most accessed articles published in 2012. On that list is Todd Stinebrickner for his article, "Learning About Academic Ability and the College Dropout Decision" (Vol. 30, No. 4, October 2012) and Shintaro Yamaguchi, who is visiting Western from McMaster University, for his article "Tasks and Heterogeneous Human Capital" (Vol. 30, No. 1, January 2012).

Gervan Fearon, Vice-President (Academic and Provost) Brandon University

Gervan Fearon (PhD 1999) was appointed Vice-President (Academic and Provost) at Brandon University effective July 1, 2013. As a member of Brandon’s senior executive team, Fearon will develop and promote academic programs and advance research. Fearon is currently Dean of the Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson. (Brandon University News)

Professor Emeritus Edward Saraydar (1925-2012)

It is with deep regret that the Department of Economics announces that Professor Emeritus Ed Saraydar passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. Ed will be sadly missed by his colleagues and his many friends. Ed began his career at Western in 1967 and retired in 1991. (Obituary, London Free Press)

The Celebration of Ed Saraydar’s Life took place on Saturday, February 2nd at 2:00 p.m. in the Library of the Sir Adam Beck Condos, 250 Sydenham St., London.

The flag was lowered at Western at 2:00 p.m. on February 2nd.

Tiff Macklem (Western Ph.D. 1989) Eyed as Future Governor of the Bank of Canada

Tiff Macklem (Western Economics Ph.D. 1989) is reported to be the leading candidate to replace Mr. Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of Canada. An article in The Globe and Mail, November 27, 2012, states that Macklem, now senior deputy governor, has been closely involved in nearly all of the Bank's major initiatives. His character, described as smart, low-key and quietly ambitious, and vast experience has reportedly put him in good standing to work with current political figures.

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