Student Economic Review

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The Student Economic Review is an economics periodical, edited and produced in its entirety by a committee comprising undergraduate students of Trinity College Dublin. Started in 1987 by John Fingleton, now head of the Office of Fair Trade in the United Kingdom, it relies largely on the support of the faculty of the Economics Department in Trinity, in particular President of the Review, Prof. John O'Hagan, and Patrons Dr. Carol Newman, Prof. Dermot McAleese, Prof. Alan Matthews and Prof. Frances Ruane.

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[edit] Origins

The Review has its origins in the 1950s in DUBES, the Dublin University Business and Economics Society, one of the oldest student societies in Trinity. It was initially a vehicle for more academic pursuits, however it lapsed. During the 1980s, though, interest in a student publication re-emerged, both from students and staff. The Review in its current form dates from 1987, is an entirely independent student organisation and has grown in its annual activities a lot in recent years. Though entirely operated by Trinity Students, it is neither a Society, nor affiliated with any Society, as so is not organised through the Central Societies Committee or with CSC funding. Funds are raised by the committee and in particular the sponsorship manager, but all SER activities in recent times rely heavily on the generosity of donor and Trinity graduate Harry Hartford.

[edit] Review

The Review itself is a published document, and is sold in Trinity College each April/May, after the Launch by a prominent graduate or public speaker. Sections traditionally in the Review include: Economic Theory (and the Scientific Status of Economics as a Discipline), Economic History, Public Policy (or particular aspects of Public Policy, including Transport Economics), the European Economy and the Economics of Development. Sections are tailored each year, however, to respond to the particular strengths of submissions.

[edit] Activities

Aside from the Review itself, the Review committee also organise workshops on economics and other relevant topics each year. An event of growing popularity is the Annual Oxbridge debate which is organised by the debate manager of the SER and serves to illuminate a topic of not only economic interest but also a more popular interest. This most recent debate, that in 2005, organised by Brendan Gilroy on behalf of the SER, with the cooperation of the Phil, was against Oxford. The Trinity team successfully proposed the motion that this House Would Drop the Debt. Previous debates have looked at the issues of Free Trade/Fair trade, and the Euro, amongst other issues.

The 2006 debate looked at the issue of the Common Agriculture Policy. It was organised by the current SER debate manager, Emma Howard, with the assistance of the College Historical Society. Trinity overcame the Cambridge team to clinch victory.

The Annual Oxbridge Debate was another success in 2007 Oxford opposing the motion that "This house believes that the rich world must face its environmental responsibilities." The motion was passed, with Trinity succeeding in the debate. 2007 also marked a new threshold for the SER activities as Yale were invited to debate with the Trinity team for the first time. The Trinity team convincingly argued for the European social model in a traditional 'Boston or Berlin?' debate, with the adjudicators siding Trinity's arguments.

[edit] Past Editors & General Managers

Throughout its history, the Review has attracted some of the brightest students of economics. These include:

  • Founding editor, Dr. John Fingleton, current head of the Office of Fair Trading in the United Kingdom and formerly Director of the Irish Competition Authority
  • 1989 editor, Prof. Philip Lane, current director of the IIIS at Trinity, recently appointed to the new Chair of International Macroeconomics, and recipient of the Bernacer award for Outstanding Young Monetary Economist
  • Dr. Alan G. White, editor of the 1992 edition, and currently Vice-President of Analysis Group, Boston, MA
  • Kevin Horan, Assistant Editor, 2000. Keyboard player in The Thrills.
  • Michael King, Assistant Editor, 2001. Founder of Suas Educational Development and O'Reilly Scholar 2004.

To contact the current committee; please email econrev@tcd.ie

[edit] External links