Economics

Overview

The study of economics at Hood College emphasizes educating students to become informed global citizens. We work toward this objective by providing our students with a strong grounding in economic theory, in empirical research techniques, and with opportunities to work with our faculty on public policy research projects. Recent graduates have worked with faculty on a living wage study of Frederick County, on an economic impact analysis of the business community on employment in Frederick County, on an empirical study of the impact of corruption on economic growth, and on a study of the effectiveness of industrial policy in Malaysia.

We provide multiple opportunities for students to actively engage with policy-makers and analysts working on pressing public policy problems. This happens when economists at the Urban Institute are invited to give a lecture or a seminar on welfare reform in the United States. It happens when we invite environmental economists to meet with a small group of economics and environmental policy majors on the role of public disclosure in pollution management. And it happens when representatives from Bread for the World meet on campus with economists from the International Monetary Fund to talk about reforming the international financial infrastructure governing international capital flows.

Because public policy requires a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving, our students often combine their study of economics with course work in political science, history, sociology, math and philosophy.

Internships

Our students are strongly encouraged to combine classroom study and participation in joint research projects with faculty through either an internship or study abroad. Because of our proximity to Washington, D.C., our students have been able to secure internships in Congress, at the White House, the National Institue of Standards and Technology, the Urban Institute, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Development Bank.

Alumnae and Almuni Success Stories

Our graduates are pursuing a wide range of careers. Some have gone on to earn doctorates in economics or public policy and become university professors. Others have gone on to earn M.B.A. degrees at some of the country's best business schools, including Harvard University. Others are pursuing graduate study in economics or public policy at The American University, Duke University and The Johns Hopkins University. Still others are working at such organizations as the National Institutes of Standards and Technology, IBM, Unisys and Merrill Lynch.

Here is a sample of what our recent graduates are doing:

Class of 2008:
University of Arizona, Doctoral Program in Economics
University of Pittsburgh, Doctoral Program in Economics
George Mason University, Doctoral Program in Economics
George Mason University School of Law, JD Program
Research Assistant, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve

Class of 2006:
University of California at Santa Barbara, Doctoral Program in Economics
University of Arizona, Doctoral Program in Economics
Economist, National Institute of Standards and Technology

Class of 2003:
Georgetown University, Post-doctoral Fellow
Student majored in international economics and political science. After Hood, she received her doctoral degree in government from The American University.

Class of 2002:
The George Washington University, Doctoral Program in Iinternational Affairs
Student majored in international economics and political science. After graduation she worked for a year in a major development consulting organization. Subsequently, she was awarded a fellowship to earn a doctorate in international affairs from the Elliott School of International Affairs.

Class of 2001:
The American University, Doctoral Program in Economics
Student double majored in economics and math. After Hood and was awarded a fellowship; she is now studying for her doctorate in economics.

Class of 1999:
Harvard, M.A. Ph.D. Program in Public Policy
This Hood student majored in economics and graduated at the top of her class. She was awarded a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and is now studying Public Policy at the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University.

Class of 1999:
Director of International Business Operations, Unisys
This Hood student minored in international economics at Hood and studied the European economy in Strasbourg, France. He currently serves as the director of overseas government services for the Unisys Corporation in Vienna, Va.

Class of 1996:
Harvard M.B.A.
This Hood student came to Hood College from Yugoslavia. She majored in economics and graduated at the top of her class. After graduation she worked for a law firm in Washington D.C. conducting research on international trade issues. She is currently studying for her M.B.A. at Harvard University.

Key Faculty

Joseph Dahms

Ph.D., Beneficial Associate Professor of Economics and Chair of The Department
Phone: (301) 696-3687
E-mail: dahms@hood.edu
Professor Dahms' research focuses on Chinese economic development and institutional economics. He teaches development economics, transitional economics and the history of economic thought. His students have gone on to become professors of economics and completed internships at the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the World Bank.

Sang W. Kim

Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics and Management
Phone: (301) 696-3693
E-mail: kim@hood.edu
Professor Kim's research focuses on financial economics, international finance and applied time series methods. He has taught in Jamaica and his students have gone on to doctoral programs in economics at New York University, The Pennsylvania State, Duke, Ohio State and Michigan State universities. He has consulted for various banks and businesses in addition to non-governmental organizations in Jamaica and in the U.S.

Yong-Kyun Bae

Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Economics
Phone: (301) 696-3692
E-mail: bae@hood.edu
Yong Bae teaches microeconomics and applied topics such as industrial organization, public economics and game theory. His empirical research combines his teaching interests to specialize in the issues of consumer safety in the automobile and drug industries.

For complete information in our online catalog, click here.

Academics.