Ateneo Department of Economics at the 18th EAEA International Conference in Seoul

The Ateneo Department of Economics attended the 18th East Asian Economic Association (EAEA) International Conference, held in Seoul, Korea from 21 to 22 October. The event provided a platform for the esteemed members of the department to showcase their research prowess and expertise.

In the "Designing Competition Policy for Economic Development in Asia" session, Dr Majah-Leah Ravago presented a paper titled "The Structure, Conduct, and Performance of Competition Agencies in Asia," while Dr Geofrey Ducanes contributed with his paper on "The Impact of Competition on Poverty and Inequality: The Philippine Case using a Microsimulation Method." These presentations explored critical aspects of competition policy and its implications for economic development.

The conference also delved into "The Economics of Natural Disasters in the Philippines" session, where Mr. Gerald Pascua presented a paper titled "Impact of Extreme Rainfall Days on the Welfare of Households in the Formal and Informal Sectors." Additionally, Ateneo Institute of Philippine Culture (IPC) Visiting Researcher Mr Jitae Kim presented a paper on "Impact of Typhoons on the Labor Market: The Case of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines." These discussions were essential for understanding the economic consequences of natural disasters in the region.

Mr. Dino Saplala added his insights to the Political Economy session with his paper titled "Human Security in the Philippines relative to ASEAN and East Asia: A Hierarchical Cluster Analysis," shedding light on crucial aspects of regional security and cooperation.

Dr Maire Magante's presentation on "No Teachers Left Behind: Towards an Improved Financial Education" in the Finance session showcased the department's diverse research interests and contributions to economic development in the Philippines.

The Manila contingent, which included prominent figures such as Dr Nandy Aldaba, Dr Faith Cacnio, and Dr Hazel Parcon-Santos from the National Economic Development Authority and Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and Assistant Secretary Sarah Daway-Ducanes from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, contributed to the overall success of the conference.

The Ateneo Department of Economics' active participation and the insightful research presented during the EAEA International Conference underline the department's commitment to advancing economic discourse in the East Asian region. These contributions are poised to have a lasting impact on economic policy and development in the Philippines and beyond.