Author: Lowe_Institute

Intergenerational Mobility Analysis of the Forbes 400 List

  Article by Kara Hagler The “Great Gatsby Curve”, coined by former chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, Alan Krueger, shows that countries with higher income inequality also typically have lower intergenerational income mobility. In this article, I study mobility at the very top of the wealth distribution in the US using the Forbes

Celebrating CMC’s 75th Anniversary – A Look at Majors Over Time

  Article by Daniel Krasemann and Angelina Astillero As we celebrate Claremont McKenna College’s 75th Anniversary, we take a look at the history of student majors since the school’s inception in 1946. This exciting anniversary gives us an opportunity to explore student demand for particular subjects and how this demand has changed over time. CMC’s

Overdose Deaths Spike During COVID-19 Pandemic

Article by Julia Garbee ’22.   Addiction is a disease that thrives in isolation. The long-term isolation and economic devastation triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic largely contributed to exacerbated drug use. Overdose fatalities, which were already on the rise pre-pandemic, became more frequent due to these pandemic stressors and treatment shortages. More than 54,000 Americans

35 years ago this summer: The Founding of the Lowe Institute

By: Julia Garbee, ‘22 This summer marks the 35th anniversary of the Lowe Institute of Political Economy. Since its founding, the Institute has championed student involvement in economic research. In the mid 1980’s, CMC President Jack Stark wished to expand the number of research institutes. Noting the absence of an institute focused on economics, Stark

What drove Trump’s tweeting tendencies?

Article by Anya Syed.   Trump’s presidency saw no more precarious relationship than the president himself and Twitter. Trump’s tweets delivered global headlines, his daily disputes, and gave insight into his emotions. Analyses by the Lowe Institute investigated the potential reasons why one day saw more insulting Tweets than another. Was there more than rage

The Musk Multiplier

Article by Elliott Thornburg.   What can be gained from one of Elon Musk’s tweets? Maybe a humorous chuckle at a meme comparing a robotic crane to male genitalia. Or perhaps a slightly updated perspective on the potentially catastrophic risks of artificial intelligence. How about fourteen billion dollars? When Elon Musk tweeted “Gamestonk!!” in late

EVs Driving the Stock Market

Article by Ethan Kruteck.   A secondary market for regulatory tax credits is the secret to Tesla’s recent success. In September of 2020, Tesla reported being profitable for the past four consecutive quarters, which can be attributed to the sale of regulatory tax credits to automobile manufacturers who were unable to meet the quota (Higgins,

Restaurant Survival in a Pandemic 

Article by Julia Garbee and Angelina Astillero    The COVID-19 pandemic has had harrowing effects on restaurants across the country. Over 110,000 restaurants closed in the United States in 2020, eradicating nearly 2.5 million jobs. Indoor dining restrictions haven’t impacted all restaurants equally, though. Cuisine, hours, reputation, and services influence a restaurant’s likelihood of surviving

Mental Health and the Economic Repercussions of COVID-19

Article by Georgia Dietz.   COVID-19 defined 2020 due to the mass health pandemic; however, the grim impact of COVID-19 on mental health has received less attention. Recent work has demonstrated the disparate economic effects of COVID-19 across income groups, where those of lower socioeconomic status face more difficulties with employment and food security. Such