Professor of Economics, Tokyo International University, Kawagoe, Japan. Teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in economic development, international economics, international environmental policy, macroeconomics, and tourism policy. Research on various issues of economic development in the Asia and Pacific region (refer to list of publications below for details on research areas). September 2017 to April 2023
Senior Economist, Asian Development Bank (Pacific Department), Manila, Philippines. Developed and oversaw several technical assistance projects for the Pacific Region. Work on economic, thematic, and sector work producing publications—including Editor-in-Chief for the Pacific Economic Monitor. Provide economic inputs to grant/loan operations and programming efforts for the Pacific Department. April 2011 to August 2017
Assistant Professor/Specialist (Economics), University of Hawaii-Mānoa, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Center on the Family, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Research and extension work on various issues of welfare and public economics in Hawaii and U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. U.S.D.A. funded research on food markets, nutrition, and cost-efficient diets; National Institute of Food & Agriculture project on childhood obesity in the Pacific; developed indicators for tracking social and economic well being of households; impact evaluation of hydropower development on Hawaii households; and analysis of policies and programs to reduce low birth weight infants. Concurrent appointments with Economics Department (Cooperating Grad. Faculty) and East West Center (Adjunct Fellow). April 2009 to April 2011
Senior Economist, Asian Development Bank (Strategy and Policy Department), Manila, Philippines. Performance Based Allocation head directing work on country performance assessment in ADF-eligible countries, country programming, debt sustainability analysis, and technical assistance in related areas. October 2008 to April 2009
Rural Development Economist, Asian Development Bank (East Asia Department), Manila, Philippines. Work on technical assistance and loan operations in the agriculture, environment, and natural resource (AENR) areas in China and Mongolia. Prepared AENR sector strategy for the China Partnership Strategy. Mission leader for preparation of a $100 million project preparatory technical assistance project for reforestation/afforestation in western China, and for two Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction projects in Mongolia ($2 million each). Administered several other TAs. Developed proposals for outside grant support for TA activities with organizations including the Global Environment Fund, Volunteer Service Overseas, and World Wide Fund for Nature. October 2006 to October 2008
Research Fellow, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Policy research and impact assessment on Asian economies. Work on the Center’s education and outreach efforts improving understanding of economic developments in Asia. Research areas: trade policy (China focused), rural and agricultural development, and tourism sector development. Coauthored journal publications and policy briefs. Frequent speaker at conferences and other outreach events. Guest lecturer in a few University of Hawaii-Mānoa Economics Department courses (development economics, tourism economics). August 2003 to October 2006
Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Hawaii-Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Taught graduate course in development economics focusing on the development and macroeconomic experience of Asian economies. Developed syllabus, presented lectures, exams and grading, and applied development policy exercises applying modeling techniques to data from selected Asian economies. August 2003 to August 2004
Economist, Asian Development Bank (Economics Research Department), Manila, Philippines. Research on economic policy in support of development projects and loans in Asia and the Pacific, with emphasis on country macroeconomic assessment, and quantitative policy and distribution analysis. Organized the First Asia and Pacific Forum on Poverty (2001), a gathering of more than 300 researchers, practitioners, and DMC officials. Prepared technical assistance project to prepare new tools for poverty impact assessment of ADB-financed projects and programs. Helped prepare Asian Development Outlook (regular contributions to country chapters biannually, and lead researcher on team that prepared 2002 Theme Chapter) and Key Indicators publications. May 2000 to August 2003
Affiliate Scientist, International Rice Research Institute (Social Science Division), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Applied economic research in rainfed rice farming. Developed econometric and simulation models of land use and the adoption of new technology integrating the role of socioeconomic and biophysical factors. Research being carried out for IRRI projects in Eastern India (Bihar Plateau), and Vietnam (Mekong Delta). Estimated of a spatial economic model of land use and multi-cropping. Directed collection and analysis of data for needs assessment and evaluation of a rice technology project in Northeast Thailand. April 1998 to May 2000
Visiting Researcher, Grupo de Investigaciones Agrarias, Santiago, Concepcion, and Chillán, Chile. Director of a project to conduct a follow-up survey (previously surveyed in 1986) of farming households in southern Chile. Estimated the impact of a private-sector-based national agricultural technology transfer and market development program using panel data estimator, showing statistically significant positive program outcomes after controlling for self-selection bias in farmer participation in the program. Activities included: Survey design; hiring, training, and supervising enumerators; survey verification and programming; collection of secondary data; research coordination between several NGOs, researchers, and state agencies working with small farms. March to December 1995
Visiting Researcher and Guest Lecturer, Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile (Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agronomy), Santiago, Chile. Lecturer while conducting research on Chilean peasantry in collaboration with other university faculty. January to October 1995
Visiting Researcher, Programa Regional de Empleo para America Latina y el Caribe, International Labor Organization, Santiago, Chile. Research collaboration with ILO staff. Analysis of rural labor markets and small farm sector in Chile. In-field interviews and case studies of small farm households and farmer assistance projects. March to December 1993
Research Assistant, University of California Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service, Berkeley, CA. Research on impact of regulation of Farm Labor Contractors. Prepared research for paper based on econometric analysis (with Jeffrey Perloff). Structured interviews of farm labor contractors and mail survey of farm owners and operators in California. Survey data management and analysis. September 1990 to December 1992
Policy Analyst, SRI International Inc., Social Science Research Group, Menlo Park, California. Assisted in evaluation design, statistical programming, and report writing under contract to US Department of Labor. National Youth Employment Competency (YEC) evaluation; sample selection, and preparation of survey protocols and technical assistance guides. February 1990 to August 1990
Labor Policy Analyst, Abt Associates, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Work on a variety of federal/state research evaluations and demonstration projects in job training and welfare reform policy areas. Projects included: National Job Training and Partnership Act Experiment, and NY Child Assistance Demonstration. September 1988 to January 1990
Research Assistant, National Opinion Research Center Inc., Chicago, Illinois. Projects included assessment of age cohort effect on earnings, and sorting in marriage choice. Econometric analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Survey using STATA. January 1988 to June 1988
Research Associate, Metropolitan Opportunities Project, Chicago, Illinois. Analyzed service targeting, impact, and cost effectiveness of federal education and job training programs in the Philadelphia and Houston metropolitan areas. September 1986 to December 1988