His research, which focuses on the deeper meanings behind Latin America’s history of taxes, was recently posted on the site.  

Here’s an excerpt from the story: 

Ondetti’s parents immigrated to the United States from Argentina in 1960. That sparked his interest. Some of the key questions came about during his 10 years of work on taxation in Latin-American countries. Why is taxation heavier in Brazil than Chile? Why is it heavier in Argentina than in Mexico? 

His central research question is: Why do some countries tax their citizens more heavily than others? 

“A lot of people find taxation boring because it can be highly technical,” he said. “But it’s a political process. You can understand many other things about a country by studying taxation.” 

Congratulations, Dr. Ondetti.

Read the piece

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If you’re considering law school, as a great many political science majors do, I’d urge you to think long and hard about that decision. While the law can undoubtedly be a path to a rewarding career, it is a challenging one that needs to be carefully considered.

The decision to go law school should never be a “default.” It is a significant investment of time and money that needs serious consideration. There are many types of lawyers practicing many types of law. Which type do you want to be? What do you want to practice? You should know the answer to those questions before taking the LSAT and applying to ensure you’re making a smart choice.

First, consider the area of law in which you want to practice. While certain areas of law are practiced pretty much everywhere, other areas of practice can be very geographically concentrated. This can limit your options as to where you may end up calling home—although, in the post-pandemic world this may be becoming less of an issue. The type of law you practice will also impact your client pool, whom do you want to serve in your career?

Second, think about the kind of lawyer you want to be. There are many things you can do with a law degree apart from litigation—which while the most obvious of legal careers, is far from your only option. From regulation, to public policy, to litigation, lawyers play roles in countless aspects of public, private, and business life. Your long-term success may depend on picking one that suits your personality. Rather than litigating, you may find the same satisfaction (and pressure) in closing complex transactions.

Third, consider the amount of effort you want to put into your career. You will not be handed any success, nor should you expect to be able to coast. Real success in a legal career will require a very great deal of hustle—to get clients, to market yourself, to stay on top of your area of practice, etc. Your supervisors, partners, and associates are going to expect to you figure things out on your own. Your clients are going to expect you to know the answers. And you’re going to have to figure out how to balance all these pressures and seem confident, even when you’re not.

Finally, bear in mind that the legal market is extraordinarily unequal in terms of starting salaries, which can range from $30,000 to $190,000. While the top tier salaries pull the average starting salary high, those jobs represent only a fraction of those that are available. And of those high-paying job, many come with requirements that associates bill from 2,000 – 2,200 hours a year. Additionally, the types of firms paying those salaries tend to only operate in major metropolitan areas and almost exclusively represent corporate interests. They will also require excellent academic credentials.

If you go to a law school ranked outside of the U.S. News & World Report top 50 law schools, do not graduate at the top of the class, or lack connections, your chance of getting one of them to hire you out of law school is slim. Not to say that it doesn’t happen, but as with getting into top schools, getting the top paying jobs after law school is also a numbers game.

If you’re considering law school, you’ve probably heard lots of horror stories about law school and the practice of law. You’ve probably heard lots of positive stories about meaningful impact lawyers have had for the clients. The thing is, all the stories are true. Which one becomes your reality will depend on how carefully you weigh your options and consider your path.

Jason is an Associate at Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP. Prior to a legal career, he worked in politics and public policy.

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He is an associate in the firm’s corporate practice group, where he primarily practices in the area of securities regulation. Jason is focused on helping domestic and foreign issuers comply with the disclosure obligations and reporting requirements under securities laws, exchange requirements, and listing standards, with a focus on cross-border securities offerings and transactions. In addition, he assists companies with corporate governance and affiliated entity management, supports merger and acquisition transactions, and assists with general corporate and compliance matters.

Prior to joining Troutman Pepper, Jason was an in-house counsel with a publicly traded company and worked in the Division of Corporation Finance within the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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You can read the full article in The Diplomat.

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Not to worry because Hilary offers 5 Ways to Save.

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Dr. Gabriel Ondetti sat down with Joseph Marques for a one-on-one interview about his book, Property Threats and the Politics of Anti-Statism, for Econopolitics, the official podcast of the Economics and Politics section of the Latin American Studies Association.

You can listen to the full interview here – Econopolitics.

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With that lens in mind, Wilding offers “4 tips to help you clarify your needs.”

To read the full article, see Hierarchy of Needs.

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Congratulations to MPA student, Samuel Johnson.

Samuel received Honorable Mention at the 2021 Einhellig Interdisciplinary Forum (EIDF) for his presentation on “Analyzing the Efficacy of New Taxes in Nixa, Missouri.”

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Dr. Sara Henary has been awarded the Honors College 2021 Director’s Award for Outstanding Faculty Research.

The Director’s Award recognizes the exceptional research accomplishments of MSU’s Honors College Faculty. This award is meant to acknowledge those Honors College professors who serve as the best example of the ideal scholar/teacher who has not only made a significant contribution to their own field of research, but who have also helped to expand the growth and development of honors education at MSU.

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