EconomicsNews & Events

The Department of Economics is committed to creating learning environments that are inclusive, anti-racist, and supportive of open inquiry and debate. We are deeply concerned about student experiences regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion in our major. While we have been working hard to listen, innovate, and improve, we know there is much to be done.

We have written an Open Letter to students on Anti-Racism and plan to host meetings in the fall semester to listen to students and discuss this ongoing work. We look forward to being in conversation with you this Fall!

Congratulations to our majors for their achievements!

The Bernstein Prize funded by a gift from the Bernstein family in honor of the work their son did at Amherst College is awarded to the senior who, in the opinion of the Economics Department and the Dean of the Faculty, has done particularly outstanding honors work in economics: Sara Kao 23

The James R. Nelson Prize is awarded to the senior who, in the opinion of the Economics Department, has written a distinguished honors thesis that applies economic analysis to an important question of public policy: Xinyu Ni 23

The James R. Nelson Memorial Award is presented to that senior who, in the opinion of the Economics Department, has achieved excellence in the study of economics while pursuing a broad liberal education: Haoran Tong 23

The Jeanne Reinle Prize named after Jeanne Reinle, the Academic Department Coordinator of the Economics Department for 30 years, whose inviting and engaging presence welcomed and supported generations of Amherst Economics students and faculty, is awarded to the senior who, in the opinion of the Economics Department, exemplifies a commitment to building community in the Economics Department and a passion for Economics: Maira Owais 23, Ella Steciuk 23

The Economics Department Junior Class Prize to be awarded to that member of the junior class who, in the opinion of the Economics Department, has achieved a record of excellence in the study of economics at Amherst College: Aidan Cook 24, Ernest Protas 24, Gillian Richard 24, Aryen Shrestha 24

The Hamilton Prize which was established by his former students in memory of Professor Walton Hale Hamilton, distinguished member of the Department of Economics from 1915-1923, is awarded to that first year student who ranks highest in the economics courses he or she has taken: Winton Garrelts 26, Andrew Glassford 26, Ivy Haight 25, Rhine Hazra 26

Senior economics honors student Sara Kao was awarded the 2023 Franklin S. Odo Prize for her thesis Ethnic Enclaves and Educational Outcomes: Evidence from Refugee Resettlement After the Vietnam War.

The Franklin S. Odo Prize Fund was named in memory of the late Franklin S. Odo, the John Woodruff Simpson Lecturer and former John J. McCloy ’16 Visiting Professor of American Institutions and International Diplomacy in the Department of American Studies, the Fund supports a prize to be awarded annually to a senior who has produced an outstanding thesis in the area of Asian/Pacific/American studies. 

Available ECON 111 Sections for Fall 2023