Enrollment in NIU’s doctoral program in economics is increasing, and the department’s faculty are making significant accomplishments.

Prem Laumas, chairman of NIU’s economics department, said enrollment in the doctoral program has doubled over the past six years. There are currently 45 students in the program. “We produce roughly six to eight Ph.D.‘s a year. We have increased graduate assistantship and improved the quality of courses,” he said.

“Bright, young new scholars” were hired when the department received more money from the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. They are now able to attract more students, he said.

“Members of the department are giving seminars and doing high quality research,” Laumas said. Associate Professor Stephen Karlson will be giving seminars at Stanford and the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Professor Young Kim is serving as co-editor of the “International Economic Journal.” The journal is published quarterly in the English language by the Korea International Economic Association. Recent issues have contained articles on topics such as strategic trade policies, foreign borrowing and investment and savings in developing countries.

NIU economics professor Jene Kwon visited China and Korea last spring and made presentations to 10 different groups. “My topic was Chinese international trade and China’s development strategy,” he said.

Laumas said work by NIU economic faculty members appear on reading lists for Stanford University, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University.