This page is no longer being updated and remains online for informational and historical purposes only. The information is accurate as of the last page update.
For questions about page contents, contact the Communications Division.
Junior Jonathan Cohn (Binghamton, N.Y.) presented his research on the complexity of reaching a market economy in Hungary and Poland at the 17th Annual National Conference on Undergraduate Research March 13-15 at University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He was one of 23 Lafayette students who shared their research at the conference (see related story).
Cohn’s research grew out of a paper written for a class with project adviser Katalin Fabian, assistant professor of government and law. Fabian has received many honors, awards, and prizes, including grants from the Ford Foundation, the Institute for the Study of World Politics, the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and the Institute for International Peace Studies.
“My paper investigated how Poland and Hungary were able to transform from a command to a market economy using two very different methods of privatization,” says Cohn, a government and law major. “Poland used a shock approach, while Hungary gradually reformed toward a market economy.”
“It was interesting to note how each of these two countries made the transformation,” he adds. “Each had its own path and took almost opposite strategies in achieving the goal of reaching a market economy.”
“This paper helped Jonathan understand how history impacted Eastern Europe,” says Fabian. “I think it helped him see in more relative terms the social implications of this economic transformation.”
Cohn is considering delving further into this area of his research and perhaps expanding it into an honors thesis. If so, he is confident that his faculty mentor will offer him the encouragement and support to continue.
“Professor Fabian is so helpful. I really appreciate all of the time she offers her students,” he says. “She went over the presentation and explained how things would be at NCUR. I felt very well prepared going into my presentation.”
Fabian has shared her own research through numerous articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings. Last year, she published articles in European Journal of Women’s Studies, Hungarian Studies Review 2002, and a Collegium Budapest-Institute for Advanced Study web site; wrote book reviews published by Canadian-American Slavic Review and Voluntas; and presented papers at Congress of the Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Toronto, and a conference held by International Studies Association, New Orleans.
Cohn, who is considering applying to law school after graduation, believes that this project was good preparation for the rigors of pursuing a law degree. Working hard on one topic and bringing his research and expertise to “the next level” is similar to what he may experience in the legal profession, he notes.
“I really want to stress that I was so excited to have the chance to go to NCUR,” says Cohn. “I was happy that Lafayette made all the arrangements and encourages this kind of project. I’m not sure if other schools offer these kinds of opportunities.”
Cohn is treasurer of Student Government and Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He is also vice president of Interfraternity Council and a former member of the golf team.
A National Leader in Undergraduate Research. Jonathan Cohn ’04 made a presentation on research he did under the guidance of Katalin Fabian, assistant professor of government and law, at the 17th National Conference on Undergraduate Research.