On 23 April 2025, the Master in Quantitative Economics and Finance (MQEF) programme, together with the Economist Club Luxembourg (ECL) organised an event to celebrate academic excellence and award the ECL Prize for the Best Master’s Thesis in Economics and Finance. The prize is awarded as part of the Memorandum of Understanding between the ECL and the University of Luxembourg.
This year’s award was presented to Kareen Xu and Maria Smoczyńska, Doctoral Researchers at the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance (FDEF). Kareen and Maria were joined by Prof. Andreas Irmen, Head of the Department of Economics and Management, and Prof. Roberto Steri, Study Programme Director of the MQEF programme.
ECL Prize winners present their work
The evening began with welcome remarks from the ECL and Professor Steri, setting the stage for the awardees’ presentations.
Prof. Roberto Steri, Study Director of the MQEF programme
The welcome speeches were followed by presentations from both awardees on their respective research topics. Kareen Xu, who previously received the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship, presented her thesis on “Pension Benefits, Demographic Change, and the Individual Supply of Hours Worked.”
Kareen Xu presenting her thesis
Following Ms Xu’s presentation, Ms Smoczyńska shared insights from her thesis, “A Structural Approach to Budget-Constrained Public Procurement.” Maria was recently admitted to a doctoral programme at Northwestern University – one of the leading private research and teaching institutions in the United States.
Maria Smoczyńska presenting her thesis
The presentations were followed by a lively Q&A session. The evening concluded with a networking cocktail, allowing participants the chance to discuss the research further and exchange ideas.
We thank everyone who attended and helped make this event a success, and extend our warm congratulations to the winners!