Jonas Baune, of Minnesota State University Moorhead, uses several cross-sectional and panel
regressions to analyze factors contributing to different levels of food insecurity in the United
States. Baune found that some factors, such as GDP per capita, influence all levels of food
insecurity, while others, such as fertility, seem to only impact those experiencing mild food
insecurity. The paper also delved into long-term causes of food insecurity, with a particular focus
on the importance of agriculture and access to water.

Sosina Gebremichael, from American University, delves into gender and racial wage gaps
through the lens of different Christian religious groups. Using multiple different analyses,
Gebremichael concludes that not only are wage levels different across Christian denominations,
the multitude of racial and gender identities within those groups reveal compounding wage
penalties for women and minorities. The paper concludes with insights into both how religious
attendance and geography play a role in complex wage disparities across the country.
Roberto Urena, from SUNY New Paltz, seeks to understand if minimum wage has an effect on
the gender wage gap. Urena’s paper, contrary to all previous studies, finds that the minimum
wage has no statistically significant effect on the gender wage gap. The drastic economic and
demographic changes that have occurred in the past twenty years stand to reason that the effect
of the minimum wage on the gender wage gap might have decreased – or, as this study indicated,
expired all together.

Jackson Powell, from Belmont University, attempts to recreate results from previous studies that
found that IPO returns due to underpricing, quickly fall after trading begins. While previous
research emphasizes information asymmetries and focuses on operating companies and closedend funds, Powell studies the specific dynamics of secondary markets for IPOs. Results derived
from multiple regression analysis show that initial investors remain the primary beneficiaries of
IPO returns with open-to-close returns of roughly 16 percent and intraday returns of roughly 1.02
percent.

Meredith Newman, of American University, brings economic analysis to an important part of
United States history through a study of racial differences in the wake of WW1 agricultural draft
deferments. Using census data from 1910 and 1920, Newman uncovers that predominantly white
counties with high rates of agricultural deferments experienced increased occupational prestige
and economic development, while predominantly Black counties saw a decrease in occupational
prestige after draft deferments. This revealing study raises questions behind the mechanisms of
sharecropping and racial economic inequality throughout the early 1900s.

Joshua Hutson, from Furman University, presents a cross-border natural experiment to evaluate
the impact of the minimum wage on employment numbers. Ultimately, through regression
analysis with models that display very little error, Hutson finds no evidence that the minimum
wage has any impact on employment levels, which directly contradicts economic theory. From
his findings, Hutson suggests tying the minimum wage to inflation.
Co-Editors
Christina Alescio, Elon University
Sarah Mirrow, Elon University