Economics
Department

The St. Mary’s Project is not required for the major in Economics. However, many of our students choose to do a St. Mary’s project, often building on research they had completed in their previous economics courses.

Considering doing a St. Mary’s project in Economics? - It’s never too soon to begin thinking of topics. Take a look at what other students have done.

View SMP photos from 2007 or 2006   or 2011

St. Mary's Project Archives 

2007-2008 St. Mary's Projects

Jamie Morganstern "A Torturous Tango: Argentina and the IMF"; (mentor Asif Dowla)

Ian Murphy"An Evaluation of the Several Aspects of Historical St. Mary's City under the 1991 Plan"; (mentor Michael Ye)

Samantha Clark "Making Housing Affordable: Public and Private Partnerships: An Evaluation"; (mentor Andy Kozak)

Erin Marzoli "The Impact of Immigration on Wages: Theory and Facts"; (mentor Andy Kozak)

2006-2007 St. Mary's Projects

Sean Crouse "An Introduction to Behavioral Finance: A Study of Investor (Ir) Rationality and Market (In) Efficiency" (mentor Barbara Beliveau)

Peter Anderson "Corporate Democratization and Trends In Equity Prices" (mentor Barbara Beliveau)

Jennifer Roger "Size Matters: Small Change Over Big Plans in Poor Countries" (Asif Dowla)

Sheku Caulker "The Curse of Natural Resources on Sierra Leone" (mentor Andy Kozak)

Melissa Pumphrey "Efficiency in the Open Market" (mentor Barbara Beliveau)

Jillian Griffin "Can Moms Be CEOs? An Analysis of the Tradeoffs Between Career and Motherhood" (mentor Kristen Sheeran)

Patrick Bernhardt "Unemployment in France: An Institutional and Comparative Analysis of the French Labor Market" (mentor Alan Dillingham)

Elina Snyder "Production of Biodiesel and Cellulosic Ethanol in Southern Maryland: A Feasibility Study" (mentor Kristen Sheeran)

Michael Tedeschi "Randomization Strategy I Texas Hold'em" (mentor Barbara Beliveau)

Elizabeth Rouse "Markets Effect of Alcohol Legislation in Virgina" (mentor Barbara Beliveau)

Allen Abrams "Alcohol Consumption by the American College Student: An Examination of Incentives, Normative Factors and the Environment" (mentor Andy Kozak)

Rahul Bhanot "An Analysis of Race and Socioeconomic Diversity in Columbia, Maryland" (mentor Kristen Sheeran)

2005-2006 St. Mary's Projects

Allan Wagaman, "Changes in Government Contributions to Higher Education and the Impact on Students: A Public Policy Perspective" (mentor Russell Rhine)

Kristina Pettys, "An Investigation of the Economic Impact of Slots to Maryland Racetracks" (mentor Joan Poor)

Joseph Whilden, "Policy Options for Sustaining Maryland Terrapin Turtle Population" (mentor Joan Poor)

Karina Karakulov, "Is the Housing Bubble Ready to Burst?: An In-Depth Study of the U.S. Housing Market" (mentor Russell Rhine)

Seth Quin, "Local Housing Programs and Federal Mandates; A Case Study of the Voucher Program in St. Mary's County" (mentor Andy Kozak)

Collin Strumpf, "Organized Gambling and State Lotteries Effects on the Working Poor" (mentor Russell Rhine)

Graham W. Long "The Changing Relationship Between Crude Oil Price and Related Factors in Recent Years" (mentor Michael Ye)

Jessica Trinh, "Political Asylum and the Mounting Difficulties of Refugees: A Focus on Sri Lankans in Switzerland" (mentor Russell Rhine)

Katherine Smith, "Effectiveness, Efficiency, Equity: An Analysis of the International Market for Carbon reduction Credits" (mentor Kristen Sheeran)

2004-2005 St. Mary's Projects

Edward K. Bartlett, "Affordable Housing Crisis in St. Mary's County"" (mentor - Ho Nguyen)

Megan E. Beechener, "Investment Guide for Beginning Investors" (mentor - Russell M. Rhine)

Noah L. Berk, "The Roots of Success" (mentor - Donald R. Stabile)

Kathryn E. Bogel, "Social and Cultural Factors in Economic Development A Case Study: Costa Rica and Nicaragua" (mentor - Donald R. Stabile)

Rina M. Brule, "Socio-Economic Aspects of Agricultural Land Preservation" (mentor - Joan Poor)

David S. Coppersmith, "Foreign Direct Investment and Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of Contagion" (mentor - Kristen Sheeran)

Terhea L. Dawkins, "The Hotel School-Maryland: A Business Plan" (mentor - Donald R. Stabile)

Katherine E. Dugan, "Effects of Economic Liberalization and WTO Accession on China's Financial Sector" (mentor - Ho Nguyen)

Megan D. Gilbert, "Prisoners of War" (mentor - Donald R. Stabile)

Ian M. Hartman, "Drug Problems in Northern Thailand" (mentor - Ho Nguyen)

Jamie H. Johnstone, "The Net Wealth Tax: Lessons from Past and Peers" (mentor - Kristen Sheeran)

Heather L. Kilbourne, "Prisoners of War" (mentor - Donald R. Stabile)

Louise V. Lusby, "An Economic Analysis of Canadian Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States" (mentor - Michael Ye)

Sara E. Lychenheim, "An Empirical Analysis of Horse Farm Pricing" (mentor - Russell M. Rhine)

Doria D. MacKenzie, "Emerging Middle Class in P. R. China" (mentor - Kristen Sheeran)

Ryan E. McQuighan, "On the Look-Out for Falling Prices: Wal-Mart's Impact on Low Inflation" (mentor - Russell M. Rhine)

Cherise N. Nelson, "Legal Issues in Starting a Small Business" (mentor - Donald R. Stabile)

Geoff T. Sanzenbacher, "An Empirical Analysis of the Impact of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 on Welfare Dependency" (mentor - Andrew Kozak)

Emily N. Shammas, "Who's Poor in America: Official Poverty Definitions and the Working Poor" (mentor - Kristen Sheeran)

Diane M. Zrimsek, "Operations of Horse-Related Businesses in Southern Maryland" (mentor - Ho Nguyen)

2003-2004 St. Mary's Projects

Graham Morton Babbitt, " "Looking at the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program in St. Mary's County" (mentor-Donald Stabile)

Matthew W. Breece, "Contingent Behavior of Southern Maryland Rockfish Charter Fishing Industry" (mentor-Joan Poor) 

Kathleen Mary Clair, "Mother, Daughter, Sister, Migrant : The Feminization of International Migration" (mentor-Asif Dowla) 

Richard Chadwick Davis, "Miracle Economy of the 1990s : What Went Right? : Macroeconomic Lessons for the 21st Century" (mentor-Russell M. Rhine) 

Stephanie Nicole Forman, "Executive-level Employees : Why Chief Executives are Losing their Jobs : Planning for Volatility and Understanding the Motivations of Tomorrow's CEO" (mentor-Donald Stabile) 

Jeremy Armstrong Green,"Primary commodity Dependency in Developing Countries and Innovative Techniques in Commodity Risk Management" (mentor-Asif Dowla) 

William H. Grube-O'Brien, "Economic Valuation the Civil War Attributes of Point Lookout State Park" (mentor-Joan Poor) 

Terence Christopher Hagerty, "History of Presidential Economic Policy : An Evaluation of Economic Policy Trends From FDR to Bush" (mentor-Russell M. Rhine) 

Michael Douglas Harrison, "Evolution of the global economy" (mentor-Russell M. Rhine) 

Megan Hillary Houck, ""Globalization and inequality" (mentor-Asif Dowla)

Stephanie Shelton Kisgen, "Rhythm & Brews business plan proposal" (mentor-Donald Stabile)

Megan Elizabeth McFall, "Business plan : RES Corporation" (mentor-Donald Stabile)

Brian John Morrison, " "Subjective ratings and the financial success of a major motion picture" (mentor-Joan Poor) 

Keri Lee Pessagno, " "Hedonic property valuation study of the St. Mary’s River watershed" (mentor-Joan Poor) 

Colin J. Shores, "Are the Koreas another Germany? : an economic analysis" (mentor-Ho Nguyen) 

2002-2003 St. Mary's Projects

Alison Burke, "Financial Comparison and Analysis of Coca-Cola and Pepsico" (mentor-Russell Rhine)

Amy Forbes, "Grapes as an Alternative Crop for Maryland State Tobacco Buyout Farmer" (mentor - Joan Poor)

Carlene Keller, "Mary Kay: A Marketing Case Study"(mentor - Donald Stabile)

Jason Lawson, "Social Security: Understanding the Historical Context and Evaluating the Empiric" (mentor - Andrew Kozak)

Seth Mininger, "Lost Recreation Use During Chalk Point Oil Spill: A Valuation Report"(mentor - Joan Poor)

Jamie Smith, "An Economic Valuation of Historic St. Mary's City" (mentor - Joan Poor)

Erin Taylor, "Patients Versus Patents: The Economics of Essential Medicine in Poor Countries"(mentor - Asif Dowla)