Ted Figinski, ’13 economics Ph.D., is the recipient of the 2013 Charles A. Lave Paper Prize for the Most Creative Modeling in Social Sciences.

Established in 2009, the endowment provides a $1500 award each year to an undergraduate or graduate student whose research displays creative use of clear models and data through which the models may be evaluated. The award honors economics professor emeritus Charlie Lave who passed away in 2008.

Figinski’s winning study explores employer hiring practices of National Guard and Reserve members who face a probability of being deployed to active duty. Currently, reservists are protected by a government mandate that requires employers to rehire them upon return from active duty.

Figinski conducted a resume study where virtually identical credentials were submitted to employers with open positions; the only difference among the resumes was reserve status which allowed him to examine the effect of reserve status on the probability of receiving a request for an interview.

He found there is a small and statistically insignificant "penalty" for those currently attached to the National Guard and Reserve, but that military experience increases the probability of receiving a request for an interview by 15 to 30 percent.