Text Info (Fall 09): 

Econ 102.04: Custom edition of Case/Fair/Oster: Principles of Microeconomics is available in the bookstore.  Because this is a cutom edition with only the chapters I plan to cover in the course, the cost of the book should be less than half of the usual bookstore price for the full edition.

Econ 100.01:  (1) Levitt, Steven D. and Stephen J. Dubner.  Freakonomics.  New York: Harper Collins, 2005.  ISBN: 0-06123400-1  (2) Roberts, Russell.  The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protectionism.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2007.  ISBN: 0-13143354-7. Other required course readings will be made available on BlackBoard.

Econ 207.01:  This course uses text excerpts and journal articles provided on BlackBoard.  No required text to buy.

Degrees:
PhD Economics: University of Kentucky (1998)
MS Economics: University of Kentucky (1993)
BA Economics: SUNY @ Geneseo (1991)

Courses:
Intro Economics: The Economics of Social Issues (G3)
Principles of Microeconomics (G3)
Economics of Health and Healthcare
Environmental Economics (W)
Public Finance (G3)

Mike’s teaching interests include microeconomic theory, environmental economics, health economics, public finance, and economic education. Mike’s research interests include environmental economics and economic education, in particular, the economics of land use and farmland preservation.

In 2005, Mike was the primary author and project director for Economics and the Environment: Focus on Land Use and Farmland Preservation, a curriculum for teaching environmental economics at the 9-12 grade level. This text was published by EconomicsPennsylvania with funding from the Claneil Foundation and the Pennsylvania Delegation of the Chesapeake Bay Commission.

In 2000, Mike completed work as the project director on a research project looking at public farmland preservation for the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. This report, "An Interdisciplinary Approach to Benefit Cost Analysis of Public Farmland Preservation Programs" (co-authored by Gary Hovinen and Charles Geiger) was rated the #1 project by the Center's Board of Directors in 1999.

In 2000, Mike published a research paper titled, "Do Consumer's Respond to Ecolabels?: Evidence from a Market Experiment Using Contingent Valuation," in the Pennsylvania Economic Review.

As the director of the Center for Economic Education, Mike is actively involved in the development of economic education at the K-12 level. In his 14 years as director, Mike has presented over 80 professional development workshops and seminars to over 1500 teachers. In his role as the director of the Center for Economic Education, Mike provides support to area educators who participate in programs offered by EconomicsPennsylvania such as the Stock Market Game, the Business Plan Competition, and the Economics Challenge. According to data collected from teachers, the lessons and programs offered by the center over the past 14 years have influenced the education of over 35,000 k-12 students in the local area in addition to the ongoing use of lessons and programs in the years following the professional development and training activities.

As a member of the Millersville University faculty, Mike has been involved in projects and consulting totaling over $450,000 in corporate, government, and foundation grants and partnerships in support of the university's mission. In addition, Mike's research and his connection to economic and personal finance education has resulted in feature stories and quotes in local and regional newspapers including the Lancaster New Era, Lancaster Sunday News, Lancaster Business2Business, Harrisburg Patriot News, Central Penn Business Journal, and Central Penn Parent. Mike has also appeared on WGAL News, WHP 580, and is a three time guest on WITF's Radio Smart Talk program.

Mike received his BA in Economics (1991) from the State University of New York at Geneseo and his MS and PhD in Economics (1993, 1998) from the University of Kentucky. He has been a member of the Millersville University faculty since 1995.