From Climate Economics to Matching Theory: Five Undergraduate Teams Engage in Intense Research Competition
The Department of Economics at Chung-Ang University held the 14th Economics Forum on November 20 in Room B502, Building 310, showcasing outstanding research achievements by undergraduate students.
At the forum, five teams that advanced through the preliminary round competed in the final round by presenting their research findings. The participating teams—CES, DO WHAT EXCITES, Skian, Shinbakhaejae, and Changcheon Sodae—included a total of 20 students.
Diverse Research Topics Ranging from Climate Change to Dating Programs
The Grand Prize was awarded to the CES team (Mingyu Kim, Jaeil Kim, Minju Oh, and Eunseok Oh) for their study titled “Unequal Climate Damages and the Incentives.” Using the RICE50+ model, the team analyzed cross-country disparities in climate change damages. The judges highly praised the study for applying an internationally recognized economic model at the undergraduate level.
The Best Paper Award went to the Shinbakhaejae team (Jaehun Kim, Hyunwoo Shin, Daeun Ha, and Jimin Park) for their research offering practical policy recommendations on taxi fare system reform in Gyeongju City. The study stood out for its practical application of economic theory to a local economic issue.
Other notable presentations included a quasi-experimental analysis by the DO WHAT EXCITES team on the impact of new dormitory construction on nearby housing costs, and an energy economics perspective by the Skian team on the paradox of expanding solar power generation. The Changcheon Sodae team captured audience interest with a creative study analyzing the Korean dating reality show “I’m SOLO” through the lens of matching theory.
A Platform for Academic Exchange and Scholarly Growth
Each team delivered a 20-minute presentation, followed by an extensive Q&A session with a panel of five full-time faculty members from the Department of Economics, as well as attending students. The forum provided students with an opportunity to explore advanced topics not easily covered in regular coursework and to engage in academic exchange across student societies.
Participating students shared their reflections, stating that they were able to experience the joy of research by applying classroom theories to real-world analysis and that the opportunity for scholarly interaction with other academic societies was particularly meaningful.
The award ceremony was held on November 26 at 8:00 a.m. in Room 921, Building 310, where certificates were presented to the winning teams.
Selection of International Exchange Participants and Expansion into Global Academic Collaboration
This year’s forum also served as a selection process for students participating in the Department of Economics’ international exchange programs scheduled for December and January. CES, DO WHAT EXCITES, and Changcheon Sodae were selected to participate in the international exchange program with National Taiwan University, while Skian and Shinbakhaejae were chosen for the exchange program with Ritsumeikan University in Japan.
The Department of Economics plans to continue expanding its academic forums to support student-led research and foster the ongoing development of scholarly competence among its students.