Assistant Professor of Economics
Economics & Business Administration / Academic
- Office:
- Hopkins Center 309
- Mailbox:
- 61630
- Email:
- Phone:
- 903.813.2607
Education:
B.A., Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
M.A., New Mexico State University
Ph.D., University of Utah
Faculty Bio:
I joined the Austin College faculty in Fall 2017 after receiving my PhD in Economics from the University of Utah. My research interests are varied but currently focuses on the underlying causes of energy price shocks, particularly oil price shocks, how the shocks affect the macroeconomy of advanced and developing countries, and what appropriate policies responses can be used to address the shocks. Some of my recent work has been on the causal relationship between oil production and economic growth and development. Also, I have done research on the oil price-current account nexus where I examined whether a country’s level of financial development matters in explaining the sensitivity of current account balance to oil price fluctuations. My other string of research assessed the impact of state and local tax structure on economic growth across 50 U.S. states.
At Austin College, I teach courses in International Trade Theory and Finance, International Business, and Principles of Macroeconomics. In the International Trade course, students study the major models of international trade and analyze trade policies. In the International Finance course, students study the workings of the international capital and foreign exchange markets and evaluate different monetary and exchange rate policies. The International Business course challenges students to identify and examine the risks and opportunities of doing business abroad. The principles of macroeconomics course introduce students to the core tools and methods for analyzing the aggregate economy. My principal objective in teaching these courses is to enhance my students’ independence of thought.
Recent Courses:
International Trade & Policy, International Finance, International Business, Principles of Macroeconomics
Research Interests:
Energy Economics, International Economics, Macroeconomics, Growth & Development Economics, Applied Econometrics
Publications:
“Oil Production and Economic Growth in Angola”, International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 8(2), 127-131, 2018.
“Salt Lake County Small Area Population Estimates: 2010-2014”, with Perlich, P. S., Young, N. B., Van Noy, E. and Hollingshaus, M. Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute: Salt Lake City, UT., 2016.
“Pragmatism to Dogmatism: The Laissez Faire Myth and the Disabling of the American Fisc”, with Adkisson, R.V., Review of Social Economy, 70(4), 421-450, 2012.
“Tax Structure and State Economic Growth During the Great Recession”, with Adkisson, R.V., The Social Science Journal, 51(1), 79-89, 2014.