Research Projects from the Academic Year of 2013-2014

Each year, MERG organizes research groups where students have the opportunity to conduct economic research in cooperation with external organisations and faculty members.

Here are six of the research projects from the academic year 2013-2014:

The remaining projects will be uploaded shortly. 

(1) ‘Trends and Key Drivers of Income Inequality’ for Oxford Economics.

Authors : Conrad Allison, Erlend Fleisje, Will Glevey,  Wouter Leenders, Johannes Prochazka (leader) and Garima Singhal.

This paper analyses key past and future trends of income inequality on a global, national and city level as well as key drivers of within-country income inequality based on existing literature. While income inequality between countries has risen in most OECD and developing countries over the last few decades, global income inequality seems to have decreased for the first time in centuries. 

(2) ‘Global Convergence and Divergence in consumption patterns: a literature review and what we can learn from macro-level data’ for Oxford Economics.

Authors : Wen Jian (leader), Jacqueline Warren, Kunal Singhal, Trang Cao, and Shaun Ng.

This paper provides a general framework for both globalization and cultural factors determining changes in consumption. 

(3) ‘Gillette and the Razor Market: Trends and Case Studies’ for Procter & Gambler.

Authors: Stefano Piano (leader), Gino Engle, Doris Chen, Charlotte Leahy, Liu Jiaxi and Yu Chen Xing.

This project explores trends in the razor market through econometrics and case studies. 

(5) ‘Literature & Data Review: Alcohol abuse in Russia/Soviet Union’ for Professor Kaivan Munshi.

Authors: Lindsey Anderson (leader), Katie Burns, John Finlay and Jason Lu.

Analysis of the key themes and trends in the literature on alcohol abuse in Russia through its historical context to the present day. 

(6) Ethical Investment Report for Tearfund

Authors: Helen Mussell , Eric Kroshus (leader), Lizette Chua, Jeffrey Xiao and Wupya.

What is an ‘ethical’ investment? Is there a difference in the returns between ethical and non-ethical products? Are ethical products accessible to ordinary consumers?