Spotlight on LED Alumni: Kourtney Koebel, BA (Hons) Economics and Political Science (2015)
Kourtney Koebel graduated from Laurier with an Honours Degree in Economics and Political Science in 2015. The research she conducted with faculty member Tammy Schirle while a student at Laurier was published in Canadian Public Policy, with surprising results suggesting some moms took more opportunities to work when they receive child benefits. She went on to complete an MA in Economics at Queen’s University, where she established herself as an expert in the design of guaranteed basic income policies. Following completion of an MA in Political Science and a Ph.D. in Industrial Relations and Human Resources at the University of Toronto, she was a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow with the University of Toronto’s Department of Economics and Rotman GATE Institute. Today she is a Postdoctoral Researcher with the Stone Centre for the Study of Wealth and Inequality at INSEAD (France) and will be joining the University of Toronto’s Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources as an Assistant Professor in 2025.
- What are you working on currently, and what do you find most exciting about it?
One of the most interesting projects I am currently working on is designing a proposal for a Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) in Prince Edward Island (PEI). Written alongside some amazing economists, politicians and activists, in my opinion, this report provides the most politically feasible proposal for a GBI in Canada to date. It has been an exciting project to be apart of because there has been political interest from the onset, and even more-so recently with Ottawa expressing interest to participate in a federal-provincial working group to support PEI’s broader work on making GBI a reality in the province. The broad goal of the project is to see the implementation of a province-wide GBI demonstration, which would allow researchers to study GBI in a way that has not been done before.
- What is one thing you remember best from Laurier?
The thing I remember best about Laurier is the faculty. Due to the smaller scale of the university, it is easier to get to know your professors outside of the classroom than at other larger universities. During my time at Laurier, I found that the faculty were incredibly interested in helping you succeed if you take the initiative to reach out and get to know them (which you should, they are all incredibly kind!). The faculty at Laurier provided me with my first formal research project (and publication), assisted me with my graduate school and SSHRC grant applications, helped me decide which school to attend, and even checked in to send encouraging words of support during my graduate studies. The faculty in the Department of Economics at Laurier make it an incredibly special place to learn. I’d like to highlight a particular faculty member, Tammy Schirle, who has been an incredible mentor to me for the last 10 years – right up to the moment of my first official job talk. Thank you, Tammy, for everything!
- What advice would you have for students starting out in Economics?
For students starting out in Economics, I recommend reading the news and thinking about the real-world implications of the theoretical models you are learning in class. Engaging with theoretical concepts in this way outside of the classroom will solidify your knowledge of the theory and help you think more critically about current events (and even the theory being taught in the classroom!).