NEWS

2008

Congratulations to Sephorah Mangin, PhD student (Economics):

Sephorah has been accepted to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings (20 - 23 August) in Economic Sciences. She will join more than 300 of the worldwide best young economists who will meet 14 Laureates in Economic Sciences and the Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Professor Yunus. For more details see: http://www.lindau-nobel.de/WebHome.AxCMS?ActiveID=1012

Prof. Jeff Borland, Dr. Eoin Killackey, Prof. Henry Jackson, Dr. Rosanna Scutella and Dr. Yi Ping Tseng awarded a $380,000 ARC grant:

Dr. Eoin Killackey and Professor Henry Jackson from the Psychology Department, Dr. Rosanna Scutella and Dr. Yi Ping Tseng from the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research and Professor Jeff Borland from the Department of Economics, have been awarded a $380,000 ARC grant for their project, 'Improving Employment Outcomes in Early Psychosis: Social and Economic Benefits of Early Intervention'. The ARC Linkage Grant will commence in July 2008.

John Freebairn was reported in relation to recent policies of inflation. The Australian, Thursday 22 May, 2008, page 2.

Rhonda Smith was reported in relation to the possible merger of Westpac with St. George Bank. The Age, Tuesday 13 May, 2008, page 2.

Neville Norman was interviewed in relation to the Federal budget, which was leaked before its official announcement. ABC 774 Melbourne, Tuesday 13 May, 2008.

John Freebairn (Economics) and Rosanna Scutella (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research) were mentioned in relation to a recent report that condoned tax reform. The Age, Saturday 10 May, 2008, page 6.

Leading research professor joins the Department of Economics:

The Department welcomes Professor Harry J. Paarsch who joined the Department in May 2008. His previous appointment was as Professor of Economics and Robert Jensen Research Fellow at the Henry B. Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa. His publications appear in the Review of Economic Studies, Journal of Econometrics, International Economic Review, European Economic Review, among other journals.

John Freebairn was mentioned in relation to tax rebates of those living in remote locations. Australian financial Review, Friday 18 April, page 15.

Peter Lloyd was interviewed in relation to the Australian motor vehicle industry. Radio National, Monday 21 April, 2008.

John Freebairn wrote an article which considers the implications of a possible tax reform. The Age, Tuesday 22 April, 2008 page 12.

Tim Moore wrote an article regarding the decline of public and academic language. The Australian, Wednesday 30 april, 2008.

Professor Ross Garnaut has been appointed a Vice-Chancellor's Fellow at the University of Melbourne, and a Professorial Fellow in the University's Faculty of Economics and Commerce. Professor Garnaut will take up the part-time appointment at Melbourne after completion of the Garnaut Climate Change Review. He will be attached to the Department of Economics and the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, both within the Faculty of Economics and Commerce.

Nikos Nikiforakis talks about his research on revenge and interpersonal conflict: Financial review BOSS Magazine - page 79

Neville Norman has been interviewed about the upcoming federal government. SBS Ethnic Radio, Monday 25 February 2008

Ian McDonald has commented on low unemployment rates. - Canberra Times, 4 March.

Ian Macfarlane, previous Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, has been appointed Professorial Fellow in the Department till 2010. As part of his appointment, one of his first tasks will be to address the Economic Honours Students on April 22.

Nikos Nikiforakis talks about his reaserch on revenge and interpersonal conflict: Financial review BOSS Magazine - page 79

Neville Norman has been interviewed about the upcoming federal government. SBS Ethnic Radio, Monday 25 February 2008

Ian McDonald on Canberra Times

Ian McDonald has commented on low unemployment rates. Canberra Times, 4 March

Some good news

Andrew Clarke, Russell Hillberry and Mark Joshi have all been confirmed in their positions. Congratulations to all three.

2007

Economics Honours student is Victorian Rhodes Scholar for 2007
Congratulations to John Feddersen who has been awarded the 2008 Victorian Rhodes Scholarship for postgraduate study at Oxford University.

John is in the process of completing his Honours in Economics in 2007. He has also completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics), Bachelor of Science (Mathematics and Statistics) and a Diploma in Modern Language (German).

He has earned four University Blue Awards in Hockey, selection in the Australian Universities Hockey team, Victorian Vikings Squad and Australian Under 19 team.

John also captained the University Hockey team to victory at the Australian University Games in 2006 and is a keen life saver (Lorne Life Saving Club).

Two of our Ph.D students awarded prizes
Congratulations to Yuelan Chen (Yuelan would like to express her thanks to her supervisor Dr. Simon Loertscher) and Vicar Valencia (Vicar would like to express his thanks to both his supervisors, Dr. Nisvan Erkal and Prof. Bill Griffiths) who were awarded "best student presentation" prizes at the UWA Ph.D conference held on 2 November. These were the only student prizes awarded.

Neville Norman interviewed on ABC radio
Neville Norman has been interviewed about the Treasurer Peter Costello's debate with Labor Treasurer Wayne Swan. ABC 774, 30 October and widely reported.

Insights - new business and economics journal - available online
Insights, a new public interest journal produced by the Faculty of Economics and Commerce, publishes condensed and edited versions of public lectures held at conferences and seminars connected with the Faculty. These are valuable and acessible contributions to current debates and issues and they offer the latest thinking on business and economics. Insights provides business and community leaders, alumni, students and researchers with easy access to contemporary materials, keeping professionals up to date with new findings and key ideas relevant to their profession.

Insights is available online at http://insights.unimelb.edu.au

The Australian Economic Review, Volume 40, Number 3 now published
Edited by Professor Ross Williams from the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economics and Social Research (MIAESR) and Professor Ian McDonald from Economics, the most recent volume of 'The Australian Economic Review', has been published. Contributors to this volume include Professors Nilss Okekalns and John Creedy from Economics, and Professors Kostas Mavromaras and Mark Wooden from MIAESR.

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Mark Joshi elected to University Council
Congratulations to Mark Joshi who has been elected from the Academic non-professorial staff to University Council for a term of office from 1 January, 2008 to 31 December, 2009.

Econochat returns!
After a couple of years in the wilderness, Econochat is back with an all new format. Further information on Econochat and back issues

Opening of the New Experimental Economics Laboratory
On 23 August, 2007 the Experimental Laboratory was officially opened by Mr. Grant Hehir, Secretary of the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance and Professor Nilss Olekalns, Head of the Department of Economics. Other attendees included Ms. Claire Thomas, Director of the Economic and Financial Policy Division of the Department of Treasury and Finance. Further information on Experimental Economics

Prof. Jeff Borland receives a Carrick Institute "Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning"
The citation recognises "two decades of teaching of large student cohorts in economics, including innovative curriculum design and resource development to support student learning". Further information here

Commendation for Dr. Nikos Nikiforakis
Nikos received a commendation as part of the University's Knowledge Transfer Excellence Awards. The Commendation is in recognition of Nikos' efforts in the various training modules and other related work that he has undertaken for the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance. Further information on Knowledge Transfer here

ARC Discovery Project Grants for 2008
Congratulations to Department of Economics staff who have secured ARC Discovery Project Grants. Dr. Liana Jacobi received a grant for her project: Bayesian Analysis of Treatment Effects in Experiments with Imperfect Compliance. Professor David Dickson, Associate Professor Mark Joshi and Dr. David Pitt received a grant for their project: The Pricing and Risk Management of Reverse Mortgages in the Australian Market. Professor John Freebairn, Dr. J. Yong and Dr. A. Palangkaraya received a grant for their project: Effects of Private Health Insurance on Health Care Usage and Health Outcomes in Australia.

ARC Linkage Grants for 2008
Professor Daniel Dufresne and Professor Anne van den Nouweland were awarded an ARC Linkage Grant with Faculty co-investigators Associate Professor F.J. Vazquez-Abad and Dr. M. Menabde for their project: Understanding Cycles in Mineral Commodity Price, A Market Model with Uncertainty.

National Carrick Institute Grant for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
Congratulations to Associate Professors Joe Hirschberg, Jenny Lye and Carol Johnston who have won a National Carrick Institute Grant for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education ($212,722) entitled: "Measuring Student Experience: The Relationship between Teaching Quality Instruments (TQIs) and the Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ)".

WELCOME from the Department
The Department extends a warm welcome to our new staff members:

Ms Rosy Qin

Ms Olga Brown