ECONOMICS @Memorial
The Department of Economics at Memorial University is a leading organization in Atlantic Canada for impactful research, regional policy engagement and excellence in undergraduate and graduate learning.
Our slogan is Real World Skills. It reflects our commitment to training you with the skills needed to succeed in your career.
Read our alumni testimonials to hear from former undergraduate and graduate students about how their time in our department helped shape their personal and professional journeys.
Latest News
Congratulations, Shah
December 16, 2025
Congratulations to Shah Labib Hasan (MA Economics, 2025) on accepting a new position as Economist in the Economics Division of the Department of Finance, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Prior to completing the Master of Arts in Economics program, Shah obtained his Bachelor of Science in Economics at Memorial University and worked for the Regional Analytics Lab (RAnLAB) to support evidence-based policies for regional development.
Congratulations, Aiyan
December 15, 2025
Congratulations to Aiyan Raaid (BSc Economics and Computer Science, expected 2026) on completing your undergraduate studies and starting in a full-time position as Commercial Account Manager at the Business Development Bank of Canada.
The Business Development Bank of Canada is a financial Crown corporation that supports Canadian entrepreneurship by providing financial and consulting services to small and medium sized enterprises.
Congratulations, Moshfeka
December 5, 2025
Congratulations to Moshfeka Akhter (BSc Economics, 2025) on accepting a new position as Program Coordinator at the Department of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development in the Employment and Labour Market Branch, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Department of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development strives to ensure the province has skilled workers for a fast-growing economy by creating a climate that is conducive to economic growth, competitiveness and prosperity.
Ernest Joseph Ennis Scholarship
November 27, 2025
Congratulations to our first-year student Andrew Stinson (BA Economics and Political Science) on receiving the Ernest Joseph Ennis Scholarship.
This scholarship was established by Ernest Joseph Ennis of Merasheen, Placentia Bay, retired School Supervisor, in memory of Dr. Hatcher, Ms. Monnie Mansfield, and Professors Fraser, Gillingham, and Andrews of the Memorial University College. This scholarship is awarded to an entrance student of scholarship standing with preference to a student planning to study Economics or Political Science.
Remote Work and Temporary Foreign Workers
November 24, 2025
Dr. Tony Fang, Professor and Stephen Jarislowsky Chair, published two research articles. The first paper is joint work with Wenhao Chen (National Taipei University), titled “Restricting Temporary Foreign Labour: Evidence on Wage Effects from Canada’s 2014 Policy Reform,” published in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies.
Read the first paper here.
The second paper is joint work with Morley Gunderson (University of Toronto), John Hartley (Memorial University student), Graham King (Memorial University student) and Hui Ming (Sichuan Agricultural University), titled “Determinants and Effects of Remote Work Arrangements: Evidence From an Employer Survey,” published in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Human Resources.
Read the second paper here.
Presentation to Senate of Canada
November 18, 2025
Dr. Wade Locke, Retired Professor, presented to the Senate of Canada committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources on the offshore petroleum industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“The oil and gas industry’s share of provincial GDP is larger than the forestry and logging, fishing (including processing), pulp and paper, and mining sectors combined.
“The petroleum sector has transformed the NL economy!”
Read Dr. Locke's Speech.
Read Dr. Locke's Presentation.
Racial Bias in Criminal Sentencing
November 17, 2025
Dr. Blair Long, Assistant Professor, published an article titled “Racial Bias in Criminal Sentencing: Historical Evidence from Chinese Railway Workers in British Columbia” (joint with Kris Inwood and Ian Keay) in the Canadian Journal of Economics.
This paper contributes to literatures in economics on discrimination in criminal justice settings and the dynamics and objectivity of state institutions.
Read the full article here.
Savings Nudges
November 14, 2025
Dr. Derek Messacar, Associate Professor, was featured in Benefits Canada magazine going “head to head” with Preet Banerjee, Personal Finance Expert, on the role of nudges in workplace pension plans to help people save for retirement.
“Nudges haven’t had the large aggregate effects on savings we once expected. That’s not necessarily a problem, but it requires us to rethink our objectives. In an analysis of an automatic escalation feature of registered pension plans, I show nudging is a simple way to help people save who are the most at risk of under-preparing for retirement on their own.”
Read the full article here.
NLSIP Grant
November 10, 2025
Dr. Tony Fang, Professor and Stephen Jarislowsky Chair, was awarded a grant from the Newfoundland and Labrador Settlement and Integration Program (NLSIP), titled “Developing an EDI-AR Framework and Initiatives for the K-12 System in Newfoundland and Labrador: A Collaborative Approach.”
NLSIP provides project-based funding to support the social, economic, and cultural integration of newcomers to the province.
The project aims to provide evidence that can inform public policy discussions about removing racial discrimination and racism, fostering an inclusive environment, and equipping educators and students with proper tools to mitigate and eradicate racial discrimination and racism in the province’s K-12 education system.
Federal Budget 2025
November 5, 2025
Dr. Lynn Gambin, Associate Professor and Department Head, was interviewed with Tom Cooper (Memorial, Business), Scott Matthews (Memorial, Political Science), and AnnMarie Boudreau (Board of Trade) on CBC’s The Signal with Adam Walsh about the new Federal Budget.
“The projections and how they are going to pay off is still something to keep an eye on. And there are a lot of factors outside of the direct control and influence of Canada.”
Listen on CBC or watch on YouTube.
New Faculty Hire
November 1, 2025
We are pleased to welcome Sara Wray Enns to her new position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics.
Sara is completing her PhD studies in the Department of Economics at the University of Victoria. Her research focuses on the economies of Arctic and sub-Arctic North America. Sara works in the fields of Indigenous, development and labour economics, and brings with her a strong technical background in micro-econometrics and causal inference to the Department.
Dean’s List 2024–2025
October 30, 2025
Congratulations to Tabib Khan (BA, Economics & MUN Economics Society President) on receiving the Chevron Canada Limited Endowed Scholarships and being named to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean’s List for 2024–2025 at Memorial University.
This scholarship is based on academic standing as well as expression of interest in potential employment in the oil and gas industry, and signaling of career location mobility. Level of service to community, or leadership is also considered.
Tabib is pictured here with Dr. Lynn Gambin, Associate Professor and Department Head, at the Dean’s Awards event in recognition of the hard work and accomplishments of so many students in the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences.
ACEA Conference 2025
October 19, 2025
The Department of Economics hosted the 51st annual meeting of the Atlantic Canada Economic Association last weekend, from October 17th to19th, 2025, under the blue whale as we celebrate our 100th anniversary.
We are grateful to all the participants who travelled from across Canada to be at this event and make it a success!
Special thanks to Dr. Kevin Milligan (UBC) and Dr. Maggie Jones (McGill) for travelling to St. John's to deliver invited lectures.
We are also grateful to Rachelle Cochrane from Trades NL and Rhonda Tulk-Lane from the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce for their participation and engaging discussion in a policy panel on productivity and regional economic development. The event was moderated by our very own Dr. Wade Locke, Retired Professor of Economics, Memorial University.
This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors:
-Pearson Education Canada
-Atlantic Chamber of Commerce
-Port of Argentia
-Economic Developers Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
-Fortis
-TradesNL Indigenous Skilled Trades Office
-Fraser Institute
-Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Memorial University
-Collaborative Applied Research in Economics, Memorial University
-Vice President–Research, Memorial University
-Stephen Jarislowsky Chair, Memorial University
Thank you again to everyone who made this event possible, and we look forward to seeing you next year!
Check out some pictures from the event here!
Inclusive Hiring Practices
October 16, 2025
Dr. Tony Fang, Professor and Stephen Jarislowsky Chair presented in a workshop “Inclusive Hiring Practices: Pathways to Employment for Immigrants. Panel Discussion”. Dr. Fang was joined by co-panelist Wendy Cukier (Diversity Institute, Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub and Future Skills Centre).
The event was presented by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Magnet, Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University and the Diversity Institute.
Congratulations, Ian
October 10, 2025
Congratulations to Ian Scott (BA Hons. Economics & Geography, 2024) on the new position as Economist at the Conference Board of Canada.
Before landing this role, Ian went on to complete a Master's of Arts in Economics at Queen's University.
New Publication in the Journal of Mathematical Finance
October 10, 2025
Dr. Jean-Gabriel Lauzier, Assistant Professor, published an article titled "Risk-Sharing, Measuring Variability and Distortion Riskmetrics” in the Journal of Mathematical Finance. This work is in collaboration with Liyuan Lin (Monash University) and Ruodu Wang (University of Waterloo).
The article explores how people share and trade risk when they use different statistics to measure it.
Read the full article here.
On the Upcoming Election
October 10, 2025
Dr. Blair Long, Assistant Professor of Economic History and Macroeconomics, appeared on CBC Newfoundland and Labrador’s The Signal with Adam Walsh last Thursday, October 2nd to discuss the upcoming provincial election.
Listen to that discussion here.
Book Prize
October 4, 2025
Congratulations to Dawn McDonald (BSc Economics, Hons) on receiving the Dean Of Science Book Prize in Economics at the Faculty of Science 2025 Dean’s Awards ceremony.
The Dean of Science Book Prize recognizes exceptional academic achievement. Nominations are submitted by each department to the Dean of Science office. This honour is awarded based on demonstrated academic excellence in the student’s declared major.
Recruitment and Retention of Indigenous People in Construction in NL
September 29, 2025
Dr. Lynn Gambin, Associate Professor & Department Head, visited Happy Valley-Goose Bay on September 24-25 as a part of ongoing research on recruitment and retention of Indigenous people in the construction trades in Newfoundland and Labrador.
This work is being undertaken with Stanley Oliver and the Trades NL Indigenous Skilled Trades Offices (ISTO) as community partner.
Here and Now
September 29, 2025
Dr. Lynn Gambin, Associate Professor & Department Head, appeared on CBC's Here & Now last Thursday, September 25. Dr. Gambin sat down with Carolyn Stokes to discuss the provincial election, campaign promises, spending and budgets.
Watch the interview here.
National Assembly on Workplace Democracy
September 26, 2025
Dr. Tony Fang, Professor of Economics and Stephen Jarislowsky Chair, will co-host a National Assembly on Workplace Democracy (NAWD) Regional Forum.
This event is co-hosted with The Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources at the University of Toronto.
CIRHR Director, Rafael Gomez, will discuss the assembly process and worker voice; what was gleaned from our Ontario Assembly on Workplace Democracy and its Canada-wide expansion; and the findings from our post-survey regarding the assembly’s impact on the participants’ personal wellbeing.
When: November 3rd, 2025, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.
Where: Bruneau Centre for Research and Innovation, room IIC 2001, Memorial University
How to Register: Click here.
Welcome to Our New Department Head
September 2, 2025
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Lynn Gambin into her new role as Head of the Department of Economics.
Dr. Gambin has been a faculty member in our department since 2016 and has served in various administrative roles including the Director of Undergraduate Programs and the Director of the Master of Employment Relations program. She grew up in Dunville, NL and obtained her bachelor's and master's degrees in economics from Memorial University before pursuing doctoral studies as a Rothermere Fellow at the University of York, UK.
Learn more about Dr. Gambin in her message from the head.
JChair Renewal
August 4, 2025
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Tony Fang, Professor of Economics, has been renewed for a third term in his role as the Stephen Jarislowsky Chair of Cultural and Economic Transformation at Memorial University!
The Jarislowsky chairship was established through the support of the Stephen Jarislowsky Foundation, Elinor Gill Ratcliffe, and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Dr. Fang, who is also a former graduate student of our department, first took on this role in 2015.
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