~The future of economic research is bright~
WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:--- On July 19, 2024, the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) presented the Best Economic Research Award to the winners of the 2024 edition. This competition was open for students from Curaçao and Sint Maarten at the HAVO and VWO levels, while students from both countries and from abroad were invited to submit their graduation theses at the bachelor and master levels. The winners of this year’s competition are Brandon Matroos and Giuliano Daal from Albert Schweitzer College at the HAVO level, Ian Noor and Jerome Da Costa from Radulphus College at the VWO level, and Nathalie Zimmerman Beriguete from the University of Curaçao at the bachelor level.
The CBCS holds this annual competition to stimulate economic research among students on particularly the economies of Curaçao and Sint Maarten. To increase the number of participants and the quality of the research projects, the CBCS held in-person information sessions at various schools and universities in both Curaçao and Sint Maarten. The CBCS received a total of 21 entries, 7 at the HAVO level and 7 at the VWO level, on topics including climate change, monetary and currency matters, and the impact of geopolitical conflicts. The 7 submissions at the bachelor level addressed, among others, digital financial literacy, central bank digital currency, tourism, and food price inflation.
The submissions were evaluated by an expert panel of judges with a wide range of knowledge on economic, fiscal, and monetary issues. The evaluation committee was chaired by Dr. José Jardim and consisted of Drs. Alberto Romero, Drs. Eugene Holiday and Drs. Eric Matto. Submissions were evaluated on research methodology, originality and creativity, writing skills, layout, and relevance, according to the academic level of each category.
Brandon Matroos and Giulianno Daal (HAVO) received the Best Economic Research Award for their research paper titled "De introductie van de Caribische Gulden (XCG)." Ian Noor and Jerome Da Costa submitted their paper titled "XCG: A name change, but does it change the game?”, while at the bachelor level the award was granted to Nathalie Zimmerman Beriguete for her thesis titled “Digital financial literacy in Curaçao”.
During the award ceremony at the CBCS, the winners presented their research projects, after which they received their trophy. The winners at HAVO and VWO level received a prize of NAf 2,500, and the winners' school received a NAf 5,000 cash prize. The winner at bachelor level received a NAf 5,000 prize. The CBCS extends its best wishes to all participants for continued success in their future studies and careers.
Willemstad, July 22, 2024
CENTRALE BANK VAN CURAÇAO EN SINT MAARTEN
