Carissa Ferguson is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations conducting research as part of the Departmental Honors program. Her research project, titled “The Effects of Taxation on Social and Economic Well-Being,” is a comparative analysis of 36 countries involving the causal relationship between taxation and well-being. More specifically, she asks the question, “Does a higher level of taxation, as percent of GDP, lead or contribute to better outcomes of social and economic well-being within a country?” Through her analysis, she hopes to gain insight into the most effective and optimal federal tax structures, while identifying flaws and weaknesses of existing systems. Her investigation of this issue is both qualitative and quantitative in nature, with the goal of her findings informing the development and revision of future tax policies in both developed and developing nations. She hopes to continue her studies and build upon her research while pursuing her PhD following graduation this spring.