Doresh Khemraj Awarded Minerva Center Innovation Funding

Doresh Khemraj, an honors program student in our Economics Department, has been awarded $2,400 from the Minerva Center Innovation Funding for Research and Creative Endeavors. His research project, "Doom, Gloom, and Boom: A Forecast of the Economic Impact of Guyana's Oil Industry" under the supervision of Professor Byoung Park, aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of how the recent oil discovery could shape Guyana's economic future. Khemraj will explore the potential opportunities and challenges facing Guyana as it experiences unprecedented economic growth, with a GDP that surged by 63.4% in 2022. By examining both quantitative data from countries like Norway, Nigeria, and Venezuela, and qualitative insights into economic development, his research seeks to understand how resource-rich developing nations can effectively leverage natural resources to drive sustainable economic progress, reduce poverty, and invest in critical infrastructure and social services.