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Undergraduate publishes research Photo: Gwyn Donahue
L ast fall, economics student Gwyneth Donahue competed in the International
the paper also demonstrates that there remains a portion that is unexplained by
Atlantic Economics Society (IAES) conference and won the competition for
these variables, which can likely be attributed to discrimination,” said Donahue.
Best Undergraduate Paper, resulting in the publication of her work. The junior
She also found that the wage gap does fade, the longer an immigrant is in
focused her research on the wage gap existing between immigrant and native
the U.S., “though this wage ‘convergence’ is not consistent among every
workers in the United States.
occupation, indicating that immigrants in unskilled occupations have a higher
Donahue’s work on the paper actually began as an assignment in professor
wage gap with natives versus immigrants in skilled occupations.”
Dr. Iris Buder’s econometrics course. “Econometrics applies statistical and
Throughout the research process, Donahue was able to gain experience using
quantitative methods to analyze business and economic phenomena,” explained
statistical analysis, as well as in communicating results. After participating in
Buder. “When Gwyn proposed her research project, I could already see the
the conference, Donahue said that the experience only enhanced her plans to
potential for her idea,” said Buder. “After Gwyn submitted her final research
join academia in the future. “The process was an incredible preview of what I
paper for the class, it truly was one of the best undergraduate econometrics
want to do in the future.”
papers I had ever read.”
“Gwyn’s hard work on this research project paid off in a huge way – getting
Donahue said her motivation for choosing the topic was to explore the
published as an undergraduate is quite a significant achievement,” said Buder.
underlying cause of the wage gap and whether or not it can be explained by
The IAES was established as a means to increase communication between
educational or occupational choices or the potential for discrimination. “While
economists worldwide. Numerous Nobel Prize winning economists and leading
education, occupation and other demographic attributes were shown to
government officials have participated in the IAES global exchange.
contribute to the wage gap [between immigrant and native workers in the U.S.],
