Mercer University's BB&T Center for Undergraduate Research in Public Policy and Capitalism this week announced the recipients of its latest round of grants supporting student research in economics, finance or other related areas.
 
The Center, which was established within the Stetson School of Business and Economics in 2009 through a generous grant from the BB&T Charitable Foundation, awarded funding to six Mercer undergraduates working on five projects.

-Oscar Martinez, a junior economics major, received up to $2,000 for his project, titled “Contraception and Crime.”

-Aaron Hinckley, a senior economics major, and Robert Mueller, a junior economics major, received up to $2,000 for their project, titled “The Black Market for HIV Medication in Georgia.”

-Maggie Callahan, a junior political science and economics double-major, received up to $2,000 for her project, titled “The Effects of European Union Membership on Wine Producers in Georgia.”

-Robert Pedelty, a senior economics and finance double-major, received up to $1,500 for his project, titled “The Different Economic Paths of Armenia and Moldova.”

-Jordin Post, a sophomore economics and finance double-major, received up to $1,000 for her project, titled “The Stock Market in the U.S. and Frontier Markets.”

These students will use their funding to present their work at either the Association of Private Enterprise Education conference in Las Vegas April 3-5, or the Society of Business, Industry and Economics conference in Sandestin, Florida, April 12-15. Additionally, all of the students will present at Mercer’s sixth annual Breakthroughs in Engagement, Arts and Research Day April 7-8.
 
“These awards are the bread and butter of the BB&T Center,” said Dr. Antonio Saravia, assistant professor of economics and director of the Center. “Our goal is to promote the thorough discussion of the moral foundations of capitalism through scholarly activities, and there is perhaps no better way to do so than by working with undergraduate students on research projects of their interest. The students awarded the grants are highly motivated, and we expect their papers to be of the highest quality.”