An honours degree in economics won’t be Cameron Young’s only distinction when he crosses the convocation dais this week.

His honours thesis was recognized as one of best undergraduate papers in the world—in the top ten per cent of all economics paper to be exact—by the Undergraduate Awards, the world’s largest academic awards programme.

As well, Young is co-winner of the Jack Knetsch Award for the best essay in an SFU economics honours thesis course.

Young’s paper tackled independent, expenditure-only, political action committees (PACs), known as super PACs, and their ever-growing influence on U.S. elections. He found a significant correlation between strong super PAC support and vote share for a bill or election candidate.

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