The Beacon Hill Institute

The economics department is on the top of Beacon Hill. So is the Beacon Hill Institute, a lively think-tank closely associated with the economics department.The Beacon Hill Institute provides tuition waivers, stipends and a wonderful opportunity for hands-on learning to a limited number of students who qualify as research assistants with the Institute. Students receiving BHI research assistantships work 20 hours per week on BHI research projects. These projects typically include data compilation, estimation and computer programming. Work takes place under the supervision of the faculty member or institute staff person who is directing the research project.

Some recent and typical projects include:

• BHI State Tax Analysis Modeling Program (STAMP): compilation of a data base for selected states, estimation of coefficients linking tax changes to various economic indicators, programming the model and running simulations of state tax law changes.
• Compilation and estimation of a data base for the estimation of the BHI Education Assessment Model, value-added statistical model aimed at identifying the principal determinants of school district performance on standardized tests.
• Construction of Metro Area and State Competitiveness index, aimed at showing how the major metropolitan areas and the fifty states rank in terms of their ability to sustain a high standard of living for their residents.
• Financial analysis, including risk and sensitivity analysis of the viability of a municipal cable system.
• Evaluation of the case brought by state attorneys general against Microsoft Corporation.
  

All work is intended to provide experience in applied policy analysis. Students are encouraged to develop dissertation topics from their work on BHI projects.