Growing up in Eastern Europe, Ramunas Rozgys '09 (Naujoji Akmen, Lithuania) saw first-hand the economic changes taking place in a post-communist country. In particular, the privatization process has been a major influence on Lithuania's economic development. This summer, Rozgys traveled to several countries to examine the issue of privatization directly, and to determine how the creation of a private sector has affected the Lithuanian economy and public.
After independence, privatization "became the backbone of the Lithuanian transformation process," noted Rozgys in his research proposal. The country's private economic development has gone through several stages, so Rozgys researched the emerging problems and benefits, as well as the different methods used to develop the Lithuanian private sector.
Rozgys is one of 18 students this summer who pursued research supported by the Emerson Foundation Grant program. Created in 1997, the program was designed to provide students with significant opportunities to work collaboratively with faculty members, researching an area of interest. The students will make public presentations of their research throughout the academic year. Rozgys collaborated on his project with Professor of Economics Erol Balkan, and the senior hopes to use his work in an international finance class with Professor Balkan this fall. He says he will also try to incorporate the research into his senior thesis project.
For his research, Rozgys relied mainly on literature and observation. After spending two months in New York City, he traveled to Lithuania and Bulgaria, as well as spending three weeks in the Republic of Georgia, where privatization is still relatively new. Rozgys was able to meet many of those involved with privatization projects, although it was challenging to gather information at times, since some of those who took part in the privatization process were reluctant to go into details of their projects. By talking to personal contacts who have worked with privatization projects, however, Rozgys gained valuable insights about how development has proceeded in Lithuania since its independence.
Rozgys explains that this research can become a valuable source of information on the struggles that a young economy faces as it tries to become competitive in the world market. "The topic is still really hot in Eastern Europe," he says. "It was fascinating to learn how the process works."
This is the first summer research project for Rozgys, an economics and philosophy major at Hamilton. Outside of class, he serves as vice president for The Brothers organization, and also works for Hamilton's audiovisual and event staff departments. After he graduates, he plans to work for a few years before attending business school.
-- by Laura Bramley
After independence, privatization "became the backbone of the Lithuanian transformation process," noted Rozgys in his research proposal. The country's private economic development has gone through several stages, so Rozgys researched the emerging problems and benefits, as well as the different methods used to develop the Lithuanian private sector.
Rozgys is one of 18 students this summer who pursued research supported by the Emerson Foundation Grant program. Created in 1997, the program was designed to provide students with significant opportunities to work collaboratively with faculty members, researching an area of interest. The students will make public presentations of their research throughout the academic year. Rozgys collaborated on his project with Professor of Economics Erol Balkan, and the senior hopes to use his work in an international finance class with Professor Balkan this fall. He says he will also try to incorporate the research into his senior thesis project.
For his research, Rozgys relied mainly on literature and observation. After spending two months in New York City, he traveled to Lithuania and Bulgaria, as well as spending three weeks in the Republic of Georgia, where privatization is still relatively new. Rozgys was able to meet many of those involved with privatization projects, although it was challenging to gather information at times, since some of those who took part in the privatization process were reluctant to go into details of their projects. By talking to personal contacts who have worked with privatization projects, however, Rozgys gained valuable insights about how development has proceeded in Lithuania since its independence.
Rozgys explains that this research can become a valuable source of information on the struggles that a young economy faces as it tries to become competitive in the world market. "The topic is still really hot in Eastern Europe," he says. "It was fascinating to learn how the process works."
This is the first summer research project for Rozgys, an economics and philosophy major at Hamilton. Outside of class, he serves as vice president for The Brothers organization, and also works for Hamilton's audiovisual and event staff departments. After he graduates, he plans to work for a few years before attending business school.
-- by Laura Bramley
