Dr. Jamie Wagner Tackles Inequality and Empowerment in Economics | College of Business Administration
Encouraged by her loved ones, and seeking to encourage equality and accessibility in economics, Dr. Jamie Wagner, Affiliate Professor of Economics, is strengthening economic education and monetary literacy prospects for Nebraska. Wagner not long ago received two grants in pursuit of a Private Finance Institute and implementation of a new curriculum in Ethics, Economics, and Social Troubles. For her exploration endeavours, she’s also been awarded two honors from the National Association of Economic Educators (NAEE).
What’s driven Wagner in these pursuits is mainly family members. When her grandpa passed away, Wagner noticed 1st-hand how significant it was for economic education and learning to be accessible and popular, particularly for gals.
“I experienced noticed the struggle my grandma went by way of immediately after my grandpa passed absent – they were being a regular married couple. My grandpa took care of get the job done and funds, and my grandma took treatment of all the housework and raising babies,” claimed Wagner. “So when my grandpa handed away, my grandma virtually did not know what to do. She did not know nearly anything about her income or if she could even acquire groceries (she was/is financially and bodily fine). Thankfully my dad takes treatment of it and assists her, but there are so many ladies who are in a equivalent predicament devoid of that guidance.”
This impressed Wagner to produce a paper investigating how financially empowered gals are now. The final results of her paper have been more stunning than she predicted – Wagner reveals that both equally solitary and married or cohabitating gals are at a monetary disadvantage compared to adult males. The downside is specially even worse for youthful gals. For her attempts, NAEE awarded Wagner the Countrywide Endowment for Economic Instruction (NEFE) Most effective Economic Literacy Paper and acknowledged her as a Growing Star. The Soaring Star award honors an educator who has created remarkable contributions to economic instruction courses early in their professions and demonstrates sturdy leadership possible for the potential.
“I’m so honored to be identified by my peers and individuals who I have appeared up to skillfully. NAEE is this outstanding loved ones-oriented experienced group. We elevate each and every other up and operate to make each other better. I do a great deal of assistance for the university and Omaha neighborhood, which is incredible, but my operate and services is now remaining identified for its countrywide impression. I’m happy to be awarded as the 2022 Mounting Star for NAEE and glance ahead to much more get the job done with my friends,” claimed Wagner.
Wagner’s success in investigating inequalities has influenced her to carry on work on a nationally impactful amount. This prompted her to write and receive two grants, one particular of which is for a Individual Finance Institute. Her vision for the Institute is that it will let secondary university teachers to network, share means, and strengthen their finance training. The Institute will also give in-depth written content for academics from experts in the area, which include Wagner. Teachers will comprehensive the W!se system, a money literacy certification that then permits them to then instruct and certify high university college students. Educators from throughout the condition will arrive to Mammel Hall in July to be part of the Institute and master how to empower their college students in economics and finance.
“I have various roles with the Particular Finance Institute. As the Director of the UNO Heart for Economic Training, it is my work to manage the full celebration, which incorporated performing with the NU Basis and the Weitz Foundation to protected funding for the plan,” explained Wagner. “It’s a great deal of perform, but it’s so wonderful to get to connect with lecturers and assistance them strengthen their written content and education techniques.”
Wagner is simultaneously planning her “Ethics, Economics, and Social Issues” curriculum information for significant university lecturers. Lecturers will learn how to have discussions and sustain an moral lens within just economics, social reports, and business enterprise. Funding for the undertaking was finalized in January this calendar year by means of the Kazanjian Foundation and the Council on Financial Instruction, and Wagner has been performing as the project manager when assembling a workforce of experts to carry the curriculum to fruition.
“Economics is the research of selections, and this curriculum is likely to emphasize the want and use of an moral framework to make individuals conclusions. Subjects in the curriculum search at the ethical factors bordering marketplaces, recycling, housing inequalities, weather improve difficulties, income inequalities, and more,” mentioned Wagner.
By means of analysis and these ongoing projects, Wagner will keep on to stage the enjoying area in economics throughout Nebraska and the planet, shifting the landscape of economic education to be enjoyable, open, and ethical for all people. We’re thrilled to see how these assignments development and how she proceeds to make financial literacy a lot more equitable and obtainable. Congratulations, Dr. Wagner!