PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Santa Clara University, Department of Economics
Teaching Professor, 2024 - present
Senior Lecturer, 2021-2024
Lecturer, 2008- 2021
Purdue University, Department of Economics:
Instructor for Principles of Economics, Summer 2005
Teaching and Research Assistant, 2002-2007
Courses taught:
Undergraduate Upper-Division:
International Trade; Intermediate Microeconomics I
Undergraduate Lower-Division:
Data Analysis and Econometrics; International Economics, Growth, and Development; Principles of Microeconomics
Faculty Coordinator for Global Experience-Understanding the Eurozone, Germany, June 2013
Graduate: Econometrics with R (in-person and online)
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Economics, Purdue University, 2007
M.S. in Economics, Purdue University, 2004
B.S. in Finance, University of the West, Timisoara, Romania, 2001
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Empirical International Trade, Applied Econometrics
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
“Growth Volatility and Trade: Market Diversification vs. Production Specialization”, Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 225, September 2024 (with Miguel Leon-Ledesma and Laura Puzzello)
"It Pays to be big: Price discrimination in maritime shipping", European Economic Review 153, April 2023. (with Volodymyr Lugovskyy)
“Tariffs, product quality, and the relative prices of durables: Evidence from 1989 to 2009 U.S. microdata”, European Economic Review, Volume 114, May 2019, pages 54-75. (with Volodymyr Lugovskyy)
“Electoral Systems and Protectionism: An Industry-Level Analysis”, Canadian Journal of Economics 46(2), May 2013, (with Carolyn L. Evans)
“Domestic Productivity and Variety Gains from Trade”, Journal of International Economics 80(2), March 2010, (with Volodymyr Lugovskyy)
POLICY PAPERS AND BOOK CHAPTERS
"Fathoming Shipping Costs: An Exploration of Recent Literature, Data, and Patterns", Policy Research Working Paper 9992. World Bank, Washington, 2022 (with Volodymyr Lugovskyy, Alexandre Skiba, and David Terner)
“Trade Infrastructure and Trade Costs: A Study of Select Asian Ports”, Infrastructure’s Role In Lowering Asia’s Trade Costs. (eds. Brooks and Hummels), Edward Elgar Publishing (2009), (with Jon Haveman and Christopher Thornberg)
WORKING PAPERS
Under Review:
“Air Transport and Trade Finance: Implications for Small Exporters” (joint with Kairong Chen, Michael DeDad, and Volodymyr Lugovskyy)
Work in progress:
“Breaking and Surviving in New Markets: Relying on Networks”, (joint with Volodymyr Lugovskyy)
MEDIA ARTICLES
“Trump’s tariffs are unfair to most Americans. Here’s how they could actually be beneficial”, Market Watch, Jul. 5, 2025 (joint with Ann Skeet)
CONFERENCES AND PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
2024 Yellow Pad Seminar - Santa Clara University Department Seminar
2023 Annual Scientific Conference of Romanian Academic Economists from Abroad (ERMAS, 9th edition), Bucharest, Romania
2021 European Trade Study Group, Ghent, Belgium
2018 Australasian Trade Workshop, Auckland, New Zealand
2017 Yellow Pad Seminar - Santa Clara University, Western Economic Association International 92nd Annual Meetings, San Diego
2016 Southern Economic Association Annual Meeting, Washington D.C.
2015 Southern Economic Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans
2013 European Trade Study Group, Birmingham, UK
2012 Western Economic Association International 87th Annual Meetings, San Francisco
2011 Midwest International Trade Meetings, Notre Dame, Yellow Pad Seminar - Santa Clara University
2010 University of California – Davis
2009 EITI 3rd Annual Conference, Tokyo
2008 Yellow Pad Seminar - Santa Clara University
2007 GTAP 10th Annual Conference, West Lafayette, West Virginia University, Oklahoma State University
2006 University of Memphis, Midwest International Trade Meetings, West Lafayette, European Trade Study Group, Vienna, Purdue University Macro Seminar
2005 Purdue University Micro Seminar
AWARDS AND GRANTS
Leavey School of Business Double 8 Teaching and Service Excellence Award, 2024
Lecturer Professional Activity Grant, Santa Clara University: 2016, 2017, 2022
Leavey Service Award, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University: 2013, 2014
Leavey Grant, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University, 2013, 2017
CIBER Ph.D. Dissertation Award, Spring 2007
CIBER International Travel Award, 2006
Krannert Certificate for Distinguished Teaching, 2005
Robert W. Johnson Award for Distinguished Research Proposal, 2005 (Awarded to the top Economics dissertation proposal)
Purdue Research Foundation Dissertation Research Grant (Academic year 2005-2006)
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Discussant
2024 Economic History Association Annual Meeting, Sacramento
2022 EIIT 29th Annual Conference, San Diego
2018 Australasian Trade Workshop, Auckland, New Zealand
2017 Western Economic Association International 92nd Annual Meetings, San Diego
2016 Southern Economic Association Annual Meeting, Washington D.C.
2015 Southern Economic Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans
2012 Western Economic Association Annual Meetings, San Francisco
2010 EIIT 17th Annual Conference, Chicago
2009 EITI 3rd Annual Conference, Tokyo, Japan
Referee activity
Canadian Journal of Economics, Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Journal of Economics Integration, Journal of International Trade and Economic Development, Journal of African Studies and Development, Singapore Economic Review, Explorations in Economic History, Economics Letters, International Economics and Economic Policy, Economic Inquiry, Journal of Transport and Policy, Economic Modelling
UNIVERSITY AND DEPARTMENT SERVICE
Peer Teaching Observation Committee: 2024-Present
Member of the Social Science Faculty Core Committee, 2014-2017, 2024 - present
Advisor for low-GPA Economics students, 2015- present
Advisor for undergraduate students (Economics majors)
Member of the LSB Committee on Promotion to Teaching Professor, 2022-2025
Member of the Economics Department Committee on Promotion to Teaching Professor, 2023-Present
Chair of the Social Science Faculty Core Committee, 2015-2017
Reviewer for Study Abroad Applications, 2014- 2016, 2018, 2023-2025
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Volunteer Delegate of National Economic Education Delegation (NEED), 2019 – present
Delivered public lectures on international trade policy and income inequality to non-academic audiences.
Selected Invited Lectures:
o Santa Clara University, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute: “Income and Wealth Inequality: Key Trends and Potential Policy Responses” (2025), “Tariffs: Who Wins, Who Loses, and Why It Matters” (2025), “Contemporary Trade Issues” (2022), “Income Inequality in the United States and Globally “(2019, 2021)
o SIR Branch 5: “Tariffs and Their Effects” (2025)
o Atria Willow Glen: “Tariffs: Who Wins, Who Loses, and Why It Matters” (2025), “Economic Inequality” (2021)
o The Villages Senior Academy: “A View on the Global Economy” (2013, 2016)
o Delphian Study Group: “The Global Economy” (2013-2014)
Board Member, Los Altos Educational Foundation, 2022-present
Fundraised and led the design and data analysis of the annual parent survey.
AFFILIATIONS
American Economic Association
OTHER
Programming languages: STATA, R/RStudio
Certifications: ACUE Micro-Credential in Promoting Active Learning Online, Association of College and University Educators, 2020