Undergraduate Prizes
The Dunn Prize for Outstanding Capstone Research Paper in International Economics
The Dunn Prize is awarded annually to an undergraduate student with the best research paper on topics related to international economics in the economics major capstone course. Any research paper on an international topic nominated by instructors teaching the capstone course during the academic year will be considered for the prize. The prize winner will be determined by an economics faculty committee and the prize will be awarded in May of each year. The prize comes with bragging rights and a cash award.
The Dunn Prize is named after Professor Robert M. Dunn Jr. who retired from the GW faculty in 2009 after more than 40 years of teaching economics at the university. Professor Dunn was an expert in international trade and finance. He has authored and co-authored many academic journal articles as well as a textbook on international economics. A charismatic and popular teacher, he has taught over 18,000 students through his long career at GW.
Professor Dunn passed away in 2010 and the Robert M. Dunn Jr. Memorial Endowment Fund was established to support students who want to pursue studies in international economics.
- Past Winners of the Dunn Prize
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(2023-2024) Rohit Ramesh, "Determinants of Sovereign Credit Ratings: Emerging vs. Developed Economies"
(2022-2023) Stefan Neagoe, "Uncovered Interest Parity and the Exchange Rate: Can the Type of Interest Rates Considered Improve the Predictive Performance?"
(2020) Brooke Roberts, "Change from Formal to Casual Attire: The Impact of Trade Liberalization on Kenya’s Informal Sector"
(2018) Joseph Hancuch, "Trade Adjustment Assistance Program: Evaluation of Competition from Chinese Imports on Post-Program Income"
The Hsieh Prize for Outstanding Capstone Research Paper
The Hsieh Prize is awarded annually to an undergraduate student with the best research paper in the economics major capstone course. Any research paper nominated by instructors teaching the capstone course during the academic year will be considered for the prize. The prize winner will be determined by an economics faculty committee and the prize will be awarded in May of each year. The prize comes with bragging rights and a cash award.
The Hsieh Prize is named after Professor Ching-Yao Hsieh, who earned his doctorate in economics from GW in 1961 and taught at GW until his retirement in 1987. He is a recipient of the Professor of the Year award for his engaging classes including graduate courses on the history of economic thought. Professor Hsieh was born in Beijing and worked as a central banker in China and in Taiwan before being appointed as an alternative director for Taiwan at the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC. Professor Hsieh was a prolific writer, co-authoring many books including A Search for Synthesis in Economics Theory; Economics, Philosophy, and Physics; and Macroeconomics: Income and Monetary Theory.
The Ching-Yao Hsieh Prize Fund was established in 1987 by multiple donors. The fund supports the annual Hsieh Prize for Outstanding Capstone Research Paper.
- Past Winners of the Hsieh Prize
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(2023-2024) Ty Brown, "Estimating the Price Elasticity of Demand for Gasoline in the United States"
(2022-2023) Rachel Brown, "Microfinance and Public Expenditures in Agriculture"
(2021) Savannah Delullo, "The Impact of COVID-19 Indoor Dining Restrictions on the Restaurant Industry"
(2020) Anna Gallicchio, "Did Political Favoritism Influence the Placement of Opportunity Zones?"
(2019) Lev Klarnet, "Preserving History or Property Values: Historic Preservation and Housing Prices in Washington, DC"
(2018) Joseph Hancuch, "Trade Adjustment Assistance Program: Evaluation of Competition from Chinese Imports on Post-Program Income"
(2017) Yeshwant Chillakuru, "The Effect of Road Access on Disease Incidence in Rural India"