YEOTY Senior Cycle Projects 2015

Young Economist of the Year 2015 Senior Cycle Projects

 

Young Economist of the Year - Senior Cycle Winner 2015

 

Teacher / School Students   Project Link
Sinead Clinton ,
St. Muredach's College,
Sligo Road,
Ballina,
Co.Mayo.

Luke Greham

Conor Walkin

Project Description: Do Subcription Fees Affect Demand for a Good or Service?

Our project determines how subscription fees affect the demand for a good or service. We also determined whether subscription fees appeal to the consumer for payment for a good or service. For research we used the results from a survey we compiled and referred to a professor in behavioural economics.

Project Feedback: 

The primary merit in this entry was the collection of raw data from a survey and the attempt to interrogate this data using the key concept of individual consumer rationality. The conclusion reached is that people are generally irrational because they pay for subscriptions and yet consistently state that they do not really like them. The reality is that people’s decisions are context dependent and so this conclusion cannot necessarily be drawn. None the less this Prezi is highly innovative in linking data to economic concepts. 

 

 

BELOW ARE THE WINNERS OF THE SENIOR CYCLE PROJECTS SUBMITTED  IN 2015 IN EACH CATEGORY 

 

 

 

Video Section Winners

 

Teacher/School Student Project Link
1st Prize
Ms. Owens,
Mount Sackville,
Chapelizod,
Dublin 20

Olive Chan

Kate Kinsella 

Lisa O’Carroll

Project Description: Tackling Ireland's Unemployment Crisis

Our video was created using SCRATCH and is a story reflecting the impact of unemployment . The main character Maria lost her job. However, with the support from the government and all the grants given to her, she is able to set up her own business again. 

Project Feedback: 

This entry has two main merits. First off, it roots Ireland’s recent economic crisis in cyclical unemployment. Thereafter it looks at the complex social and economic effects of unemployment. To improve it the authors could think about evaluating whether it is right that people can be made unemployed in the first place given the effects on children etc. 

 
2nd Prize
Mary Hughes,
SHS,
Tullamore , 
Co. Offaly.
Rebecca O’Mahoney 
<

Project Description: The Disgrace of Gijon
An illustration of the behavioural economics theory using the example of the 1982 world cup game between West Germany & Austria.

Project Feedback: 

This entry is extremely insightful in showing the need to ensure the right institutional framework for self-interested behaviour. During the World Cup in 1982 both participants in a match between West Germany and Austria knew that a win for the Germans by one goal would send both teams through to the knockout stages. Accordingly they played more or less co-operatively in order to both advance. The only problem with the video is that this is not an instance of a prisoner’s dilemma which actually shows the opposite case. Namely that by acting rationally and in a self-interested manner one can achieve an outcome that is not to their individual advantage. 

 
3rd Prize: 
Nicola Clarke,
Patrician Secondary School,
Newbridge,
Co Kildare.
Gavin Kelly
Alan Millot
Alex McMahon
KevinGallagher
Sean Francis
Evan Flanagan
Project Description: Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility Experiment
We wanted to see if the law of diminishing marginal utility always the case. We watched a funny viral video 5 times to complete this experiment.

Project Feedback: 

This is a simple but innovative application of one of the central laws in economics. It shows how repeated consumption of any good or service (in this case a funny video) leads to a falling level of satisfaction or utility.

 
Highly Recommended
Ms. K. Sheils,
Colaiste Choilm,
Dublin Road,
Swords,
Co Dublin.

Aaron O'Neill

Sean O'Brien

Phillip Daly

Project Description: Economics of Aviation
Our project gives our own adaption of frequently available information. Shown through various audio and visual methods in order to give the viewer and in-depth analysis to the economics of aviation. 
Project Feedback: 
 

Megan Regan,

Dunshaughlin Community College,

Co. Meath.

Tommy Muldoon
Sam Butler
James Irving
Rob Holohan
Jack Hennelly
Stephen McManamon
Project Description:The Economics of DJs
How money is made within the DJ industry and any potential problems within the market.
Project Feedback: 
 
Highly Recommended
Ray Silke, 
 
Colaiste Iognaid, 
 
Sea Road, 
 
Galway.
 
 
 
 
Daragh McCarthy

 

Project Description: The Irish Economy

This is a short movie which contains three chapters: Budget 2015 (the present); The Tiger Dies (the past); and The Road to Recovery (the future). The project was designed to show the ‘Irish Story’ and the strength of the Irish economy in the international arena.

Project Feedback: 

Prezi Section Winners

 

 

Teacher/School

Student

Project Link

1st Prize

Brian Lacey,
St. Muredach's College,
Sligo Road,
Ballina,
Co.Mayo.

Michael Conlon

Stephen Durkan

 

Project Description: A Study Into Brand Loyalty and Herd Behaviour in Teenage Boys in Ballina

We examined the extent of brand loyalty and herd behaviour existing amongst teenage boys in Ballina. This involved carrying out market research to collate primary data. A thorough analysis of the results was then carried out to form our conclusions.

Project Feedback: 

This entry uses primary survey data to confirm that people are susceptible to the branding and marketing. It uses concepts like conspicuous consumption to show that peoples preferences are actually (at least partly) socially determined. The project never drew this conclusion but if it was more widely confirmed this would be a major blow to consumer choice theory –very thought provoking work. 

 
2nd Prize: 
 
 
 
Carmel Murphy & Niall Heaney,
C.B.S. Roscommon,
Abbeytown,
Roscommon Town,
Co.Roscommon.

Adam Hoare

Michael Kieran

Luke Burgoyne

Matthew Mc Court

Project Description:The effects of the Black Market in the Irish Economy'

A brief synopsis on what the black market is and what they deal in, our project entails a short summary of how this affects the Government and the people of Ireland.

Project Feedback: 

This is a timely piece of research into the economics of the black market. Clearly the authors have worked hard to find the various statistics. Two points to think about. One – is this an example of people making rational choices to sell and buy things more cheaply. Two – is it necessarily a bad thing that cigarettes in Ireland are expensive (here we also need to think about the negative effects on health and not just the cost to the consumer).

 
3rd Prize
 
Ms. Owens,
Mount Sackville,
Chapelizod,
Dublin 20.
Laura McCormack
Sarah Meehan
Clara Bolger

Grace Kinirons

Project Description: The Economics of Obesity
Our project focuses on the cost of people’s bad health to our economy. We researched solutions to this growing problem.

Project Feedback:  

This is both socially aware and focused on extremely well thought out solutions to our country’s obesity problem. Fat tax alongside education and a focus on physical activity is surely needed to stop the onslaught on obesity in Ireland.

 
3rd Prize
 

Edel Egan

Patrician Brothers Secondary School

Newbridge

Co. Kildare

Daniel Anderson 

Artur Krawczuk

Adam Donoghue

Conor Fennelly

Mark Keeley

Project Description: The changes in Games Consoles
When we were tasked with creating a video/presentation, we decided to do it based on something of relevance in the world today. Therefore, we chose games consoles. We chose this as we found it interesting to see how quickly people’s opinions changed when something new comes out on the market.

 

 

Powerpoint Section Winners

 

 

Teacher/School Student Project Link
Ms. Owens,
Mount Sackville,
Chapelizod,
Dublin 20

Leanne Brosnan

Megan O' Brien

Niamh O' Donavan

Project Description: Time to Get a Life: working hours & our economy.

Project Feedback:

Excellent piece of work that uses a variety of innovative methods to look at the relationship between working hours and productivity. The conclusion drawn is that working longer hours is detrimental to productivity and that perhaps we should think about reducing the working week by 5-10 hours.

 
2nd Prize
Ms Hallissey,
Our Ladys School,
Our Lady's School,
Templeogue Road,
Terenure,
Dublin 6w
Órlaith Duke
Claire Lambe
Project Description: Quantitative Easing
We researched the long history of Quantitative Easing and the reasons for it in the past. We then examined weather Quantitative Easing has positive or negative effects and who is responsible for it. We also researched it in today’s world.
Project Feedback: 

Excellent analysis of Quantitative Easing. It takes the reader through the logic of QE and some of its history, including the long stagnation in Japan, the aggressive Fed policy after the crash of 2008 and the current programme initiated by the ECB last month. 

 
3rd Prize
Ms Hallissey,
Our Ladys School,
Our Lady's School, 
Templeogue Road, 
Terenure, 
Dublin 6w
Maeve Costello
Olivia Nash
Project Description: Deflation, and how it affected the political landscape of Germany in the 1930s

This project details the economic state of Germany following World War 1, and how the economic turmoil of the ‘20s and ‘30s helped aid the Nazi Party in their rise to power.

Project Feedback:

This is an extremely important topic given the rise of fascism in Europe at present. The authors have done more in this presentation than many mainstream historians by recognizing the links between economic collapse and rightwing extremism. The timeline is slightly confused and the link between deflation and hyperinflation debatable, but the project is very worthwhile nonetheless.

 
3rd Prize: 
Ms Hallissey,
Our Ladys School,
Our Lady's School, 
Templeogue Road, 
Terenure, 
Dublin 6w
Olivia Reid
Cialann Carney

Project Description: Economics is Everywhere

Our project is called ‘Economics is Everywhere’. We decided to focus in how movies can subtly teach us about Economics, and that economics is everywhere!

Project Feedback: 
 
Highly Recommended
Ms Hallissey,
Our Ladys School,
Templeogue Road, 
Terenure, 
Dublin 6w
 
Jennifer O'Dell
Eavan Sakac
 
Project Description: How Hosting The Olympics Effects A Country's Economy

Our project is about the effect the Olympics has on a country's economy. We analysed the London Olympics 2012 and researched how the British economy benefited from hosting this large event. We focused on the positive economic effects it had on the whole country.
 

Project Feedback: 
 

Nicola O’Reilly 

St. Peters College Dunboyne, Station Road, Dunboyne, Co.Meath.

Alan Kennedy, Andrew Crabbe, Liam Noone, Stephen Bolton

Project Description: 

In our project we discuss the economic concept of keeping a prisoner incarcerated and whether it is cost effective

Project Feedback:

 

Facebook Section Winners

 

Teacher/School Student Project Link
1st Prize
Claire Treanor,
Loreto Secondary School
Kilkenny.
Aoife O’ Carroll

Project Description: Adam Smith 

Project Feedback: 

The Adam Smith FB page mixed good visuals economic knowledge, historical sense and a sense of humour.

 
2nd Prize
Gavin Coleman,
Loreto College,
Mullingar,
Co Westmeath.
Rachel Halligan
Laura Glynn
Enya Kavanagh
Anna Doolin
Lauren Flaherty

 

<
Project Description: John Maynard Keynes
 
Project Feedback: 

The J.M Keynes entry had a good level of economic knowledge in the various posts

 
3rd Prize: 
Gavin Coleman,
Loreto College, 
Mullingar,
Co. Westmeath.
Clara Egan Griffin
Sophie Delahoy

Project Description: David Ricardo

Project Feedback: 

The FB on Ricardo again mixed humor and economic knowledge to good effect.

 
3rd Prize
Gavin Coleman,
Loreto College, 
Mullingar,
Co. Westmeath.
Gemma Duffy
Elizabeth Cunningham
Lyndsey Duncan
Rebecca Croash
Rachel Baker
Project Description: Adam Smith
 
Project Feedback: 
 
Highly Recommeded
Gavin Coleman,
Loreto College, 
Mullingar,

Co. West Meath.

Roisin Rose
Olivia Kellaghan
Nicole O’Brien
Project Description: Adam Smith
Project Feedback: 
 
Claire Treanor,
Loreto Secondary School,
Kilkenny.
Clare Kelly
Project Description: Morgan Kelly
Project  Feedack:
 
Claire Treanor,
Loreto Secondary School,
Kilkenny.
Jane Oyenuga
Project Description: David Ricardo
Project Feedback:
 
Claire Treanor,
Loreto Secondary School,
Kilkenny
Eimear McCormack
Project Description: Milton Friedman
 
Project Feedback: