Vicky Ferraro blogs from Cuba

Vicky Ferraro is a senior economics and political science major, who lived and studied in Cuba this spring through URI’s first semester-long study abroad program in Havana. She was there when President Obama made his historic visit to Cuba and got to meet with RI Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and join the Presidential entourage for a baseball game. You can read about some of her experiences in URI ‘s Quadrangles magazine or on her blog.

Smita Ramnarain and Chris Briggs join department

Dr. Smita Ramnarain and Mr. Christopher Briggs join the department this fall. Prof. Ramnarain is Assistant Professor of Economics specializing in gender, race, and inequality. Prof. Ramnarain’s research lies at the intersection of political economy, development, and feminist economics. Her work focuses on the gendered political economy of development in the global South, particularly in South Asia, with a specific focus on post-conflict reconstruction, especially in Nepal. She will teach micro principles and economics of growth and development in the fall, and gender, race and class in the spring

Chris Briggs has been a part time faculty member for several years but now joins us as a full time lecturer. He will teach micro principles, intermediate micro, and public finance. He and Prof. McIntyre plan to develop a new course for Fall 2017 in order to field a team for the Boston Federal Reserve Challenge.                            

Malloy will teach the Fall Honors Colloquium Class

URI’s Honors Colloquium is the University’s major public lecture series and it includes a large inter-disciplinary course for honors students. Prof. Malloy will teach the course in addition to his role as one of the coordinators of the series. Come join us on Tuesday evenings in the Fall in Edwards auditorium for what promises to be a terrific and timely discussion of “Inequality and the American Dream.”

Humberto Miranda visits from Havana

Dr. Humberto Miranda is visiting the department this fall from the Institute of Philosophy in Havana Cuba. Dr. Miranda specializes in the role of cooperatives in the restructuring of the Cuban economy and in the role of popular movements in Latin American Social Change. At URI he will be teaching courses in the economics department and the Honors Program and will be part of a public conversation with Professor McIntyre on “Inequality and the Cuban Dream” as part of the Honors Colloquium.

October 5
Inequality and the Cuban Dream: A Conversation
Swan Hall Auditorium, 6 p.m.

Lardaro: RI economy improving

Professor Lardaro is generally acknowledged to be the leading expert on the state economy. His current conditions index is issued each month along with commentary not just on the state’s direction but also the quality of the data used to make policy judgements and forecasts. Recently the index’ value rose for two consecutive months over last year indicating the state is “on a tear, sort of.” Follow Prof. Lardaro’s analysis at his blog.

McIntyre receives Fellowship in France

Professor McIntyre will occupy the “Chair of the Americas” at the University of Rennes II in the Spring semester. He will conduct research there as part of a team working on social and solidarity economy in the Brittany region.