MSAE students complete a professional research project.  This experience provides opportunities to work closely with a faculty mentor and apply the knowledge and technical skills developed within the program.  Students select a topic of interest for the project and present their outcomes to a panel of faculty.

Recent MSAE projects have included:

• The Effect of Monetary Policy on the Net Interest Margin of Banks with Commercial Real Estate Assets
• The Effect of Stressful Life Events on Income Eligibility for SNAP Benefits
• Job Loss and its Effect on Criminal Behavior
• Influenza Vaccination in the United States: the Effect on Economic Growth
• Impacts of Public Transportation on Food Insecurity and Health Outcomes

Research Highlights

MSAE students actively participate in professional conferences and research competitions.  Several MSAE students have served as coauthors with faculty and have published in peer reviewed journals such as The Journal of Health Economics, the IZA Journal of Labor Economics, and the BE Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy.  Articles are linked below:

• Safety regulation in professional football: Empirical evidence of intended and unintended consequences, The Journal of Health Economics
• Young adult substance use following involuntary job loss, IZA Journal of Labor Economics
• Gender Differences in the Returns to Education over Time for Married Couples, BE Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy

Students also present at professional conferences.  Derek Olson presented at the Wisconsin Economic Association Conference fall 2023 about his research related to the individual effect of being laid off, which is usually a negative signal to potential employers that decreases your chances of being hired, and whether that negative signal effect is lessened in a recession.  This article offers highlights about Derek’s MSAE experience.

Shannon Skidmore and Caroline Short presented at the Wisconsin Economic Association Conference in 2022.  Shannon’s research explored the impact of early COVID shutdowns on the labor supply of parents of school-aged children relative to childless adults with a specific focus on comparing the differences between men and women.  Shannon shared that “participating in the WEA Conference provided me with very valuable experience that aided in my quantitative research skills and professional development.”  By preparing for the conference, Shannon expanded and refined her existing research to develop a clear contribution to the body of literature.  She gained valuable feedback from conference attendees to further strengthen the validity and scope of her research and shared that “the opportunity to present in front of a sizeable audience has been the greatest contribution to my public speaking skills during my time at Marquette. Most importantly, my participation in the conference has allowed me to make considerable strides towards the completion of my MSAE professional project.”

Caroline researched the impact of a partner’s educational attainment on own labor earnings and compared this impact across same-sex versus opposite-sex marriages.  Caroline’s research was supported through funding from the Institute for Women’s Leadership (IWL) at Marquette.  Caroline shared that “presenting at the Wisconsin Economic Association Conference has helped me grow in more ways than I thought possible. Not only do I feel like I am more knowledgeable on my topic, but I feel so much more capable and confident in myself and my presentation skills. After this experience, I know I can present in front of a room full of people, answer their questions, and repeat the success I had.”