ReportfromtheXV.CarrollRoundConference–MihalyAbel
21-25April,2016.WashingtonDC,USA
XV.CarrollRoundOrganisationCommitteeandParticipants
Firstandforemost,IwouldliketothankmytutorDr.DanielSgroiforencouragingmetoapply
fortheCarrollRoundConference.Equally,IwouldalsoliketothankDr. GiannaBoerofor
deliveringtheRAEmodulewhichhasbeenahighlightofmytimeattheUniversityofWarwick,
andhelpedmeincarryingoutindependentresearch.
Inthefollowingfewlines,Iwilltrytogiveyouafewreasonsforwhyitisworthapplying.
1. Youwillgaingreatfeedbackfromconferenceparticipantsandyourtutoron
preparinganacademicpresentation.Intheprocessoftheconference,youwillmeet
withstudentsaroundtheglobepursuingresearchinyourchosentopic.
2. YoucantraveltothecapitaloftheUnitedStateswiththesupportoftheEconomics
Department to deliver a presentation on your chosen topic and meet an amazing
groupofstudentsfromaroundtheglobe.
3. ItisagreatopportunitytomotivateyoutodoyourbestduringyourRAE.
AstheprospectofsubmittingyourRAEseemsverydistantinthebeginningofTerm
1,youmightfinditconvenienttoprocrastinateandputoffprojectworkuntillater.
Theconferenceapplicationcanbeagreatmotivatingfactorandacommitmentdevice
helpingyoustayontopofyourwork.
Iwillnowcontinuewitharecollectionofmytimeattheconference.
Thursday
Withourflightscheduledatnoon,wemetwithfellowWarwickparticipantsMikeandJJat
HeathrowAirport.Allthreeofushadhighhopesfortheconferenceandwereexcitedtobegin
ourjourney,eventhoughwedidnotknowwhatthefuturewouldholdforus.
After checking into our hotel, and receiving our conference packs, we met with fellow
participants,venturingouttoanearbyrestaurantfordinner.Overthecourseofthedinner,I
wasoftensurprisedtoheartheaspirationsandcareerdestinationsoftheparticipants,which
wereverydiverse.Somewerecontinuingontofurtherstudy,researchassistantshipswhile
othersweregoingintoconsulting,technologyorfinance.
Weconcludedourdaywithorientation,whereweheardfromMitchKaneda,theDeanofthe
SchoolofForeignServiceatGeorgetownUniversity,whoisalsotheorganizeroftheveryfirst
Carroll Round Conference, and has been involved with the conference ever since. He
congratulated our group for our work, extending a special thank you to the University of
Warwick,whichhasbeenalongstandingcontributortotheCarrollRound.
Mike,Ahwaz(Georgetown),myselfandJJattheGeorgetowncampus
Friday
After coffee and breakfast on the Georgetown campus, we began our first day of the
conferencewiththefirstroundoftalks.Afteratalkabouttheevolutionofbankspecificand
systemicriskbyTimRudnerofYaleUniversity,ourveryownMichaelGillwasupatthestage
topresenthisRAEprojectontheimpactofendogenousandexogenousmonetarypolicyon
theUKyieldcurve.Mikedeliveredanexcellentpresentation,whichwasmetwithalotof
questions from the audience and a collection of an outstanding feedback from other
participants. The format of presentations followed that of a professional academic
presentation,witha20to25minutepresentationleadingintoa5minutediscussionand10
minutes of further Q&A. As we received a digital copy of all selected papers prior to the
conference, we were able to get in touch with our respective discussants to prepare
questions.
Saturday
WithSaturdaycamethesecondfulldayoftalks.Itisimportanttonotethatalthoughtwo
sections were running concurrently, participants were able to move in-between talks to
attendotherspeakers’presentations.Weheardagreatselectionofpapersontopicsranging
from the impact of football scores on domestic violence in greater Manchester, to the
relationshipbetweenAandHlistedstockontheHongKongstockexchange.Theafternoon
alsoincludedaQ&AwithEugeneFamahimself,the“FatherofFinance”,andtheoriginator
oftheefficientmarketshypothesis.TheeveningconcludedwithadinnerwithCarrollRound
alumniandstudents,andarun-aroundoftheDCarea!
JJ,Lukas(LSE)andmyselfattheWashingtonMonument
Sunday
Sundayincludedaclosingaddressandawardscelebration,whereIwashonouredtoreceive
theprizeof“OustandingParticipant”andasignedcopyofGeorgeA.Akerlof’sandRachelE.
Kranton’sbookIdentityEconomics.WealsoreceivedacopyofConferenceProceedingsof
lastyear’sconferenceabookcontainingrevisedpapersofeachconferenceparticipantfrom
thepreviousyear’sconference.Wesharedourpartingthoughtsafterbeingwelcomedinto
theCarrollRoundalumnigroup.
Finally,IwouldliketothankmysupervisorDr.DanielSgroiforhishelponmyproject,andmy
RAEmoduleleaderDrGiannaBoeroforendorsingmyapplication.Itwasagreathonourto
beselectedtoattendthisconferencewhereIwasveryhappytorepresenttheUniversityof
WarwickandtheDepartmentofEconomics.
Ifyouwouldliketogetintouchtoasktheapplicationsprocess,oranyotheraspectofthe
conferenceinparticular,pleasedonothesitatetoemailmeat:a.mihaly1993@gmail.comand
Iwillbeabletosharemyexperiencesingreaterdetail.
Mihaly