ThinkEcon

Mission Statement

ThinkEcon was founded by graduates of the University of Washington Department of Economics. It is a forum to continue economic discourse and discussion.

ThinkEcon organizes seminars to sharpen and refresh members' skills in the economic way of thinking and communicating. Seminars cover economic theory and policy applications in a casual atmosphere. The goal is to engage members in hands-on methods of economic analysis. ThinkEcon is not an environment for passive listening, its mission is to foster dynamic interaction among an informed group of graduates.

The seminar setting is fundamental to the ThinkEcon structure. Presenters are invited to communicate economic concepts effectively to non academics. Reading bibliographies are available in advance, to allow for informed discussion. A facilitator moderates the interaction between the presenter and participants to prevent a degeneration into either lecture or press conference formats.

ThinkEcon is also an experiment in continued education and networking for like-minded graduates. Many students complete their degrees in economics to find themselves pursuing careers that are removed from core economic theory and policy debates. ThinkEcon provides individuals with the opportunity to engage in economic discussions that involve policy, theory applications and insights into the mechanics of various sectors of the economy. ThinkEcon seeks to serves as a catalyst for post undergraduate economic understanding and engagement. To this end ThinkEcon seminars begin casually, providing members time to socialize at their leisure.


Structure of ThinkEcon Seminars

 

Seminar Calendar and Topics

America For Sale? Outsourcing and the Wealth of This Nation
January 28

Derek Kalles, Accenture

Suggested Reading


Soros or Fundamentals? Anatomies of Financial Crises
March TBA 

Andrew Mccallum, Economist, San Francisco Fed (UW 04) 
 

(What) To tax or not to tax. Economics of a Washington Tax Reform
April TBA 

Neil Bruce, Economist, University of Washington

 

 

PAST SEMINARS

 

The rise and fall of Intellectual property rights: The case of the computer industry.  

Nov 12

Jacques Lawaree, Economist, Microsoft

Suggested Reading 1

 

Suggested Reading 2

 

Suggested Reading 3

 

 

Third Annual: Marginal Margaritas Meeting
Theo Eicher, August 1 2003
 

 

Hidden Action and Hidden Information -- Incentive Issues in Everyday Life
Fahad Khalil, Ph.D.
09 April 2004
Suggested Readings
Seminar Summary: Incentives seek to solve the problems of hidden action or hidden information. Why is a razor handle virtually free? Why do airline tickets get cheaper when your trip includes a Saturday night? Division of tips in a Sushi restaurant. Some key aspects of the contract between HMOs and Physicians. These are some examples of the themes we will discuss. We will use a theoretical framework to analyze the motivation for and structure of incentives, and then apply it to examples from our lives. We will begin the night by collecting detailed examples of incentive issues you face. Please come prepared to provide examples of bonus and anti-shirking schemes at your place of employment, insurance contracts in which you participate and other incentive questions that have always plagued you.

 

 

U.S. Fiscal Policies and Priorities for Long-Run Sustainability
Matt Sherman and Andrew McCallum
20 February 2004
Suggested Readings
Seminar Summary: Although U.S. fiscal policy has undoubtedly provided valuable support to the global economy in recent years, large U.S. fiscal deficits also pose significant risks for the rest of the world. Please be prepared to respond to the following: 1.) Does the presence of a substantial budget deficit impact the average American citizen? 2.) Given the recent economic slowdown within the United States, what other methods were available to avoid this massive episode of deficit spending? 3.) Has the US acted irresponsibly to either its own citizens or those of other nations in creating a deficit of this size? 4.) As a percentage of GDP, are current deficit levels acceptable? 5.) Assuming the budget deficit is within reasonable limits when considered as a percentage of GDP, at what point does sheer dollar value overshadow this measure? 6.) How will US leaders create the necessary political will to make possible changes?

 

 

Losing More than Boeing - Washington's unsustainable business environment
Bethany Carlson
21 November 2003
Suggested Readings
Seminar Summary: I assert that Washington's economic boom in the 1990's was an artificial function of luck rather than a natural result of planned cultivation of business. I consequently predict that Washington's economy is poised for a protracted decline without significant infrastructural changes. Please be prepared to address the following questions: Do you agree or disagree, and why? Even if you disagree with this assertion and/or prediction, there are clearly issues that should be addressed to improve Washington's economic prospects: 1.) What one infrastructural change takes top priority and why? (e.g., tax structure, transportation, public awareness, relationship with unions, education, etc.) 2.) Will changes in the business environment taking place nationally and globally on the whole accelerate, retard, or reverse Washington's economic decline, all else remaining equal? (e.g., easier/cheaper transport, reduction of trade barriers, exporting of white collar jobs, etc.) 3.) Where should Washington look to find a template to adopt for improving the business environment? 4.) Is meaningful improvement in Washington's business environment possible without a change in public perception of the role of business in the state? How important or relevant is public sentiment on this issue?

 

 

Will the BRICs lead the way to 2050?
Bryan Morales
17 October 2003
Suggested Readings
Seminar Summary: What will the world look like in 50 years? In the upcoming half-century, the BRIC economies (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) may become dominant forces in the global landscape. As these rapidly developing countries implement institutions that are supportive of growth, the list of the world's ten most productive economies may look quite different by 2050. Specifically, please be prepared to address questions similar to the following: 1) What will the ten largest economies ($USD GDP) be in 2050? 2) How will total BRIC GDP ($USD) compare to that of the G7 in 2050? 3) What percentage of global GDP ($USD) will BRIC economies contribute in 2050? 4) How will BRIC growth rates change throughout the next 50 years? 5) How will per capita income within BRIC nations compare to that of other developed countries in 2050? 6) Which specific factors are most relevant for the future economic success of each country? 7) Can these developing countries really grow fast enough to surpass global leaders, such as the US?

 

 

Losing More than Boeing - Washington's unsustainable business environment
Bethany Carlson, Mercer Consulting,

21 November 2003
Suggested Readings
Seminar Summary: I assert that Washington's economic boom in the 1990's was an artificial function of luck rather than a natural result of planned cultivation of business. I consequently predict that Washington's economy is poised for a protracted decline without significant infrastructural changes. Please be prepared to address the following questions: Do you agree or disagree, and why? Even if you disagree with this assertion and/or prediction, there are clearly issues that should be addressed to improve Washington's economic prospects: 1.) What one infrastructural change takes top priority and why? (e.g., tax structure, transportation, public awareness, relationship with unions, education, etc.) 2.) Will changes in the business environment taking place nationally and globally on the whole accelerate, retard, or reverse Washington's economic decline, all else remaining equal? (e.g., easier/cheaper transport, reduction of trade barriers, exporting of white collar jobs, etc.) 3.) Where should Washington look to find a template to adopt for improving the business environment? 4.) Is meaningful improvement in Washington's business environment possible without a change in public perception of the role of business in the state? How important or relevant is public sentiment on this issue?

 

 

U.S. Fiscal Policies and Priorities for Long-Run Sustainability
Matt Sherman and Andrew McCallum, UW Economics, 20 February 2004
Suggested Readings
Seminar Summary: Although U.S. fiscal policy has undoubtedly provided valuable support to the global economy in recent years, large U.S. fiscal deficits also pose significant risks for the rest of the world. Please be prepared to respond to the following: 1.) Does the presence of a substantial budget deficit impact the average American citizen? 2.) Given the recent economic slowdown within the United States, what other methods were available to avoid this massive episode of deficit spending? 3.) Has the US acted irresponsibly to either its own citizens or those of other nations in creating a deficit of this size? 4.) As a percentage of GDP, are current deficit levels acceptable? 5.) Assuming the budget deficit is within reasonable limits when considered as a percentage of GDP, at what point does sheer dollar value overshadow this measure? 6.) How will US leaders create the necessary political will to make possible changes?

 

 

Second Annual: Marginal Margaritas Meeting
Theo Eicher, August 1 2003
 

 

To Pay of Not To Pay: The Economics of Higher Education
Paul Vronsky, UW June 13 2003
Suggested Reading

 

 

Technical Analysis of Foreign Exchange Trading
Bryan Morales, TexacoChevron, May 16, 2003
Suggested Readings

 

 

Fish Hatcheries – And Market Forces. Fresh Economics or Rotten Sushi?
Jackson Wilson, WA Dept of Fishing and Wildlife, April 11, 2003
Suggested Readings

 

 

Show me the money: The Economics of Politics
Gerald Willmann, Kiel Univ and Stanford, Saturday Feb 22, 2003
Suggested Readings

 

 

(In)Credible Commitments.  The Economics of the American Revolution
Andy Rutten, Stanford, Jan 31 2003
Suggested Readings

 

 

The Dollar, Roller Coasting International Financial Markets
Bryan Morales, ChevronTexaco, Dec 7 2002
Suggested Readings (preliminary)

 

 

Pollution Permits – Clean Economics or Dirty Air?
Allen Bellas, UW, Oct 7 2002
Suggested Readings

 

 

Marginal Margaritas Meeting
Theo Eicher, August 1 2002