UCD School of Economics

16/09/2026

Does FDI still deliver on its promise of positive spillovers? Yes; but with great heterogeneity in innovation spillovers across manufacturing and service sector firms.

A new paper by Holger Görg and UCD PhD candidate Biniyam Gezahegn Worku.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jid.70106

University College Dublin UCD College of Social Sciences and Law

We estimate the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) firms on the innovation likelihood of domestic firms in Ethiopia in the manufacturing and services industries. Our novel shift–share instrume...

15/09/2026

A great lineup of seminar speakers at the UCD School of Economics this week!

We’re delighted to welcome two brilliant visiting researchers— Subhrendu Pattanayak (Duke University) and Christopher Bollingerger (University of Kentucky)
UCD College of Social Sciences and Law University College Dublin

14/09/2026

Why classic portfolio theory is surprisingly hard to beat.

By dropping restrictive assumptions on market returns, new research validates foundational finance theory—proving that simple, sharpe-maximizing portfolios remain near-optimal for real-world investors.

A new working paper by Karl Whelan

https://www.ucd.ie/economics/t4media/WP2026_17.pdf
University College Dublin UCD College of Social Sciences and Law

07/09/2026

We are excited to kick start the UCD Econ seminar series of the Fall term with two brilliant speakers this week: Carsten Eckel (LMU Munich) and Sarah McNamara (ZEW Mannheim -> LISER). University College Dublin UCD College of Social Sciences and Law https://www.ucd.ie/economics/research/researchseminars/

25/08/2026

To fix a life-saving organ shortage, you don't need a massive cultural shift—just a clear conversation with a doctor and a survivor. 🫀 📘

A new paper evaluates a simple educational intervention in Tunisia that significantly boosted organ donor registrations. The key driver wasn't changing social expectations, but dismantling medical mistrust and clarifying religious alignment.
A new working paper by Christina Sarah Hauser and Maleke Fourati:
🔗https://www.ucd.ie/economics/t4media/WP2026_16.pdf
University College Dublin UCD College of Social Sciences and Law

14/08/2026

📊 Tell me what I want to hear—unless you’re new here.
A new paper shows that when a female researcher asks questions about gender norms, Italian natives and second-generation immigrants suddenly become much more progressive. First-generation immigrants, however? They don't change their tune at all. It turns out that knowing how to play the social desirability game requires a deep read of the host country's cultural playbook.
University College Dublin UCD College of Social Sciences and Law
A new paper by Christina Sarah Hauser.

https://www.ucd.ie/economics/t4media/WP2026_15.pdf

07/08/2026

❤️ Healthy habits spread. So does health.

A new UCD School of Economics working paper by our own Fabrice Kämpfen, with Owen O’Donnell and Xuezheng Qin, reveals that informing one family member about high blood pressure can improve the health of spouses and even the next generation.

The findings highlight how health screening can generate benefits far beyond the individual, strengthening the case for preventive healthcare.

📄 Family Health Spillovers: A Multidimensional Regression Discontinuity Design is now available as a UCD School of Economics Working Paper.
https://www.ucd.ie/economics/t4media/WP2026_14.pdf
University College Dublin UCD College of Social Sciences and Law

02/07/2026

Caps off to the BDIC Class of 2026! 🎓✨
Over 300 students graduated in Beijing this week, and we couldn’t be prouder! A special shoutout to Fabrice Kampfen, Dan Xie, Paul Fanning, and Niamh Moore-Cherry for representing UCD at the ceremony and helping celebrate our amazing students as they received their diplomas. 🇨🇳🥂
Congratulations to everyone—the future looks bright! 🎉

22/06/2026

🌱 Can agricultural innovation come at a hidden cost?

New research by Dimitrios Argyros explores the unintended consequences of Bt cotton adoption in North India, finding evidence that gains in agricultural productivity may have come with significant costs for child health.

The study highlights the importance of evaluating innovation not only by what it produces, but also by its impact on people.

📄 Cotton Boom, Childhood Burden is now available as a UCD School of Economics Working Paper.
University College Dublin UCD College of Social Sciences and Law
https://www.ucd.ie/economics/t4media/WP2026_13.pdf

16/06/2026

Shaping the conversations that will shape Ireland 🇮🇪✨

We were delighted to see our own Professor Orla Doyle chair this year’s National Economic Dialogue, bringing together leaders from government, academia, industry and civil society to discuss the economic and social priorities that will define Ireland’s future.
UCD College of Social Sciences and Law University College Dublin