Research Projects from the Academic Year of 2012-2013

Each year, MERG organizes research groups where students have the opportunity to conduct economic research in cooperation with external organisations. In the academic year of 2012-2013, there were three separate research groups working on the following projects:

1) 'Have recent changes in VAT rates in the UK been passed on to consumers in the form of lower/higher prices?' with Oxera Economic Consulting
Group members: Thomas Bumberger (leader), Christian Wolf, Jielei Mao, Mayukh Mukhopadhyay and Jonathon Hazell

This group analyzed the short-run effect of the 2010 and 2011 UK Value Added Tax (VAT) increases by looking at three distinct vatable product groups over the time period 2008 to 2012: new cars, hairdressing & personal grooming and liquid fuels used for transportation.

Their report is available here.

2) 'Improving the Efficiency of the Supply Chain of Maize in Northern Tanzania' with Equity for Africa
Group members: Thea How Choon (leader), Xiaozhou Chen, Akshay Koli, Eui Jung Lee

This group analyzed, and recommended solutions to, the constraints faced by the maize agribusinesses in the Moshi and Arusha regions in Tanzania.

Their report is available here.

3) 'A Review and Analysis of Examples of a Green and Fair Economy' with Tearfund

Group members: Vreeti Reetoo (leader), Jenna Julius and Dung Thuy Nguyen

This group focused on seven case studies of green and fair economies with scopes varying from local to national communities.

Their report is available here. They have also prepared a presentation.