Students of the Department of Economics, FEMA at the University of Malta yesterday presented their dissertation proposals, to be completed as part of the Master of Science in Economics. The seminar took place at the premises of the Malta Financial 福利在线免费 Authority.
Economic growth featured as a key area interest among the proposals, but the topics examined this year were relatively novel. Mr Luca Sciberras will examine how economic growth is impacted by the population's mental health, while Ms Deandra Xuereb will examine the effects of implementing environment and social goals on economic growth. In turn, looking beyond GDP growth, Mr Samwel Agius will focus on the mechanics of constructing an index of wellbeing in Malta.
Corporate tax harmonisation is high on the policy-making agenda in Europe. Three students will focus on this. Ms Kristina Grech will examine the relationship between effective corporate taxation and foreign direct investment across EU countries; Ms Sarah Vella will conceptualise corporate tax harmonisation theoretically, focusing on the effect on small states, while Ms. Riana Said will look at the relationship between corporate taxation and innovation.
In the field of finance, Mr Jack Pisani will model stock performance while Ms Laura Bonnici will forecast enterprise success with a focus on the role of public ownership. Ms Daphne Cassar will focus on Maltese households that invest in energy production. Government expenditure, a key phenomenon for economists, will be examined Mr Antonio Cassar, who will focus on how this responds to electoral cycles in Europe.
A number of studies will focus on the labour market. Ms Yixuan Liu will examine the effect of oil prices and unemployment. Ms Christine Borg will examine the effect of unionisation on the gender pay gap. Ms Yanika Chetcuti Caruana will examine the effects of reduced working hours on productivity, while Ms Maia Vella will look at the effect of mental health on labour market participation. On the social front, Mr Luke Magro will look at the effects of inflation on poverty, Ms Sarah Fava will quantify the economic costs of substance abuse while Ms Anthea Maria Gauci will conduct a cost and benefit analysis of substance abuse prevention programmes. Ms Lara Grech will model and estimate the effect of sport on student academic outcomes while Mr Daniel Curmi will examine the determinants of public and private health expenditures
