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Summary of
Qualifications
Extensive experience in teaching, research, statistics,
growth and development, international political economy,
international economics, Money and Banking, applied
macroeconomics, applied microeconomics, monetary theory and
policy, public choice and public finance.
Education
Ph.D. in Economics, January 2000, George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
Concentration: Applied microeconomics, applied
macroeconomics, public finance, public choice, and monetary
theory. MA in Public Administration, June 1999, Kennedy
School of Government, Harvard University Cambridge, MA.
Concentration: Project appraisal and management,
environmental economics, taxation and public finance.
Certificate in Taxation, June 1999, International Tax
Program, Harvard University Law School Cambridge, MA.
Concentration: Transfer pricing, comparative income
taxation, comparative tax administration, value-added tax,
tax design and tax administration, tax analysis and revenue
forecasting.
MA in Economics, 1988, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.
Concentration: Economic development and international trade.
BA in Economics (highest honors), 1984, Somali National
University Mogadishu, Somalia. Seminars Forecasting Methods
and Applications: Institute for Professional Education, Nov.
12-14, 2001, Arlington, VA>
Basic SAS: Software Seminars, Inc, August 21-23rd, 2000,
Richmond, VA
Basic Skills for New Supervisors: Academy for Staff
Development, Sep-Oct. 2000 Richmond, VA. Public finance and
expenditure: International Monetary Fund Institute,
June-August 1989, Washington, DC. Project Management and
Evaluation: Management Training and Development Institute,
July 1988, Washington, DC
Refereed Publications
In Colombia, It is All about Institutions, Revista Civilizar
de Empresa Y Economia, Vol. 1, December 2009-June 2010, pp.
23-35. A sensitivity analysis approach on the effect of
foreign aid on growth, with (Hodan Isse and Bill Peek),
Journal of Applied Business and Economics, Vol. 10 (3), pp.
97-110, 2009.
How robust is the effect of foreign aid on growth, with (Hodan
Isse and Bill Peek), Journal of Business and Behavioral
Sciences, Vol. 20, pp. 4-14, Fall 2009 (Lead Article). The
determinants of crime in Virginia: An empirical analysis
(with Bill Peek), forthcoming in Contemporary Issues in
Educational Research, Vol. 2 (4), pp. 1-11, 2009 (Lead
Article).
Foreign aid and free trade and their effect on income: A
Panel Analysis (with Hodan Isse), Journal of Developing
Areas, 2007, Vol. 41(1), pp. 127-14.
Bureaucracy and charities: The economics of private
voluntary aid, Journal of Business and Economic Research,
2007, Vol. 5 (2), pp. 73-78. An empirical analysis of the
determinants of foreign aid: A panel approach (with Hodan
Isse), International Advances in Economic Research, 2006,
Vol. 12 (2), pp. 241-250. Cited by 6. The unvarnished views
of a radical economist, Journal of Applied Management and
Entrepreneurship, 2005, Vol. 10 (3), pp. 97-105.
Fiscal policy and economic growth: the effect of fiscal
volatility, Journal of Business and Economics Research,
2005, Vol. 3 (5), pp. 17-25. An empirical analysis of the
effect of aid on growth (With Hodan Isse), International
Advances in Economic Research, 2005, Vol. 11 (1), pp. 1-11,
Lead Article. Cited by 6. Democracy and durability:
empirical analysis and causality test, Atlantic Economic
Journal, 2005, Vol. 33 (1), pp. 105-114.
Is democracy a prerequisite for political stability?
International Business and Economics Research Journal,
October 2004, Vol. 3 (10), pp. 39-47, Won the Best Paper
Award. Political freedom and the stability of economic
policy (with Hodan Isse), Cato Journal, (Fall 2004), Vol.
24, No. 3, pp. 251-60. Cited by 7.
Determinants of economic corruption: A cross-country
comparison (with Hodan Isse), Cato Journal, Winter Issue
2003, Vol. 22 (3), pp. 449-64. Cited by 58. Institutional
differences as sources of growth differences, Atlantic
Economic Journal, 2003, Vol. 31(4): pp. 348-62. Cited by 16
Institutional distortions, economic freedom and growth (with
Mark Crain), Cato Journal, Winter Issue 2002, Vol. 21 (3),
pp. 415-26. Cited by 63.
Political regimes, economic freedom, institutions and growth
(with Mark Crain), Journal of Public Finance and Public
Choice, 2001, Vol. XIX (1), pp. 3-22, Lead Article. Cited by
13
Political stability, stable economic policies and growth: an
empirical investigation, Atlantic Economic Journal, March
Issue 2001, Vol. 29, pp. 87-106. Won the 2001 Best Article
Award. Cited by 13. Economic freedom, democracy and growth,
Journal of Private Enterprise, 1997, vol. 13, pp. 1-20, Lead
Article. Cited by 30.
Other Publications
Freedom, policy stability and economic growth among nations,
Ph.D. Dissertation, 1999.
The possibility of tax reform program in Somalia, MA Thesis,
1988. Refereed Conference Proceedings. Fiscal Policy and
Economic Growth: Volatility Vs. The Levels, Conference on
Emerging Issues in International Accounting, Padua, Italy,
June 24-26, 2004.
Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth: The Effect of Fiscal
Volatility, European Applied Business Research Conference,
Edinburgh, Scotland, June 14-18, 2004. Is Democracy a
Prerequisite for Political Stability? (Won the Best Paper
Award), European Applied Business Research Conference,
Edinburgh, Scotland, June 14-18, 2004.
Conference Presentations
Inequality and Economic Growth: An Empirical Analysis,
Presented at 17th Annual Conference of the American Society
of Business and Behavioral Science, Las Vegas, NV, February
18-21, 2010.
A Sensitivity Analysis Approach of the Effect of Aid on
Growth, presented at the 65th International Atlantic
Economic Conference, Warsaw, Poland, on April 9-13 2008.
Foreign Aid, Poverty, and Growth, presented at the 63rd
International Atlantic Economic Conference, Madrid, Spain,
on March 14-18 2007.
How Robust is the Effect on Aid on Growth, presented at the
61st International Atlantic Economic Conference, Berlin,
Germany, on March 15-19, 2006. Foreign aid and free Trade
and their effect on income: A Panel Analysis, presented at
the 59th International Atlantic Economic Conference, London,
UK, on March 9-13, 2005. The Determinants of Foreign Aid,
Presented at The 57th International Atlantic Economic
Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, on March 10-14, 2004.
Institutional differences as sources of growth differences,
presented at the annual meeting of the International
Atlantic Economic Society, Washington, DC, October 10-13,
2002.
Determinants of Economic Corruption, Presented at ATLAS 35th
Workshop, Caracas, Venezuela, November 24-26, 1999. Growth,
Economic Freedom and Further Research, Presented at the
Economic Freedom Network Annual Conference, Vancouver,
Canada, October 20-21, 1999. Stability, credibility,
economic freedom and growth, presented at the annual meeting
of the Association of Private Enterprise Education in
Dallas, TX, April 5-7, 1998.
Economic freedom, institutions, and growth, presented at the
annual meeting of the Southern Economic Association in
Atlanta, Georgia, November 21-23, 1997.
Other Presentations
Comparative Development: Differences and Commonalities among
Developing Countries, Presented at Makerere University,
Kampala, Uganda, May 13-14, 2009. Globalization and World
Trade, Presented at Busoga University, Kampala, Uganda, May
15, 2009. The Importance of Institutions in Nation Building:
A Workshop for Somali-Nordic Communities, Helsinki, Finland,
May 2-3, 2009. Somali Diaspora in North America Changing the
American Landscape, One City at a Time: Challenges,
Successes and Setbacks, Presented at Spanga Tensta, Stadsdel,
Sweden, April 29, 2009.
The Myth of Return: Can Education Bridge the Gap Between the
Ideal and the Real, Presented at the Somali European Youth
Seminar, Stockholm, Sweden, April 29-May 5, 2009. The
Challenges Facing Somalia: A Voice of America Seminar,
Presented at Voice of America, Washington, DC, February 18,
2009.
Taxation: General Issues and Concepts, Presented at Sergio
Arboleda University, Bogota and Santa Marta, Colombia, March
30-April 5, 2008. Modern Monetary Policy and Challenges
Facing Central Bankers, Presented at Sergio Arboleda
University, Bogota and Santa Marta, Colombia, March 30-April
5, 2008. The International Economy and Globalization,
Presented at Sergio Arboleda University, Bogota and Santa
Marta, Colombia, March 30-April 5, 2008.
Human Rights and Civil War in Somalia: Stories from a
Forgotten Country, Presented at MIT Amnesty International,
Boston, MA, February 15, 2008.
Honors
1998-1999 Joel Leff Fellowship of Political Economy, Kennedy
School of Government, Harvard University. 1996-1998 Bradley
Fellowship, Center for Study of Public Choice, George Mason
University. Bradley Fellowship, Center for Study of Public
Choice, George Mason University. Bradley Fellowship,
Department of Economics, George Mason University
1986-1988 AFGRAD Fellowship, Department of Economics,
Vanderbilt University Awards
2009-2010 Summer Research Grant by the Research Council of
Niagara University on “Inequality and Economic Growth."
2007-2008 Summer Research Grant by the Research Council of
Niagara University on “Corruption, Economic Growth, and
Environmental Quality: An Empirical Analysis." 2006-2007
Summer Research Grant by the Research Council of Niagara
University on “Foreign Aid, Poverty and Growth".
2005-2006 Summer Research Grant by the Research Council of
Niagara University on “How Robust is the Effect of Foreign
Aid on Economic Growth". 2004-2005 Summer Research Grant by
the Research Council of Niagara University on “An Empirical
Analysis of the Determinants of Foreign Aid: A Panel
Approach".
The 2005-2006 Excellence in Research Award, College of
Business Administration, Niagara University, May 2006. The
2003-2004 Excellence in Research Award, College of Business
Administration, Niagara University, May 2004. The 2001 Best
Article Award, Atlantic Economic Journal, October 2002. The
Best Paper Award, European Applied Business Research
Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland, June 2004. Teaching and
Academic Experience 08/20/2003-Present. Niagara University,
Department of Commerce, Lewiston, NY. Associate Professor of
Economics
Taught Advanced Quantitative Methods: The course stresses
practical applications of statistics to business. Topics
covered include factor analysis, nonparametric statistics,
chi square, multiple regression, time series analysis, and
statistical process control. Each student is required to
complete a project using statistics in solving a realistic
business problem.
Taught Managerial Economics: This course is a combined
Microeconomics and Macroeconomic analysis. The microeconomic
component of the course examines decision making by the
individual economic unit, addressing such topics as: demand
and supply, price and output determination, cost behavior,
profit maximization, and competition. The macroeconomic
component examines models to explain: national output,
inflation, and unemployment; and how fiscal and monetary
policies stabilize the economy.
Taught Money and Banking: This course covers the functioning
of the money and banking system and its relationship with
the rest of the economy. The course considers the nature of
money, the markets that allocate money to a variety of uses,
the institutions that create and control the money stock,
the flow of money and how it is related to employment
levels, GDP, inflation and interest rates, and international
financial matters. Much attention is paid to problems and
issues requiring the attention of policymakers. Special
attention is given to the role of the Federal Reserve System
as it affects the economy through the monetary policy.
Taught Intermediate Microeconomics: This course covers
intermediate level microeconomics theory relevant to
business decision-making. The course is intended to give
students an understanding of the economic environment within
which businesses operate and to help you to learn to use
economics to analyze the reasons for business
decision-making and how economic decisions are generally
made.
Taught Economic Growth and Development: This course
introduce students to the study of the process of modern
economic development. In doing so, it examines how standard
micro-and macro-economic theories apply in the presence of
the market failures and weak formal institutions that
characterize developing countries. In the course of defining
what development is, economists and social scientists use
terms like poverty, inequality, illiteracy, quality of life,
etc. Economic theory provides the fundamentals, a skeleton
that can best serve as the framework for discussions about
economic development. At the completion of this course,
students will have a better understanding of what is meant
by “development.” Students will also be familiar with
several theories of development, and what implications they
have for this important part of the world. Finally, this
course will not focus on any country or region in
particular, but will present the experiences of a number of
countries to illustrate major points.
Taught Global Economics: This course examines the
interdependence of economies to explain macroeconomic
developments in a global context. Models are developed to
explain Gross Domestic Product, unemployment, inflation,
interest rates, exchange rates, and how economic policy at
the national level is impacted by economic policy and
economic conditions abroad. This course examines capital
markets, foreign exchange markets, and labor markets in both
a national and international context. Case studies and
current economic developments are examined in a global
perspective.
6/99-8/99 Harvard University Cambridge, MA
Teaching Fellow, Harvard Institute for International
Development (HIID). Assisted the core faculty in teaching
the summer executive program on environmental economics and
policy analysis (EEPA). My assignment was to teach and
assist with the research projects of students taking the
methods track (which is heavy in economic theory and
quantitative methods).
Prepared course material for class presentation. Held after
class review sessions and if necessary one-on-one tutoring.
Graded problem sets, homework assignments and final course
papers.
9/98-6/99 Harvard University Cambridge, MA.
Teaching fellow, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Assisted the core faculty in teaching a graduate level
course: markets and market failures. The course was
microeconomics applied to policy issues. It applied
microeconomic reasoning to public issues, policies, and
programs. It considered economic incentives and
organizations; models of economic behavior, including
markets, the absence of markets, and interventions in
markets; the price system and how it works; and policy
objectives and instruments. Prepared course material for
class discussion.
Held after class review sessions and if necessary one-to-one
tutoring. Graded problem sets, homework assignments and term
papers.
1/93-5/98 Northern Virginia Community College Alexandria,
VA.
Adjunct Professor of Economics, Department of Social Science
and Public Service. Taught principles of economics:
microeconomics and macroeconomics. These courses covered a
wide range of economic concepts. The macroeconomic course
covered aggregate economic activity including national
income and output, unemployment, money, and inflation. The
microeconomic course covered economic behavior at the level
of individual households and firms. It presented topics that
include scarcity and choice, demand and supply, production
and cost, and product and factor markets.
Advised students about the course material and other
academic problems. Demonstrated good and effective teaching
methods. Received outstanding evaluations from students year
after year. Assisted the department in student data
collection, enrollment analysis and forecasting.
Non-academic Work Experience 6/2000-8/2003
Commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond, VA
Research and Forecast Manager. Serve as a Project Manager
for preparation of the annual state responsible inmate
admission and population forecasts using explanatory models,
time series models, and simulation techniques. Collect,
analyze and organize data for statewide state responsible
population forecast. Attend policy and Technical forecasting
committee meetings, briefing committees on forecasting
issues and methodology.
Develop forecast and present forecast to committee members.
Obtained various Data needed for forecasting, develop and
maintain databases for research needs and create final
forecasting and accuracy reports. Prepare tables, charts,
and written research reports depicting results of
statistical analyses. Present research findings to various
policy makers and practitioners. Explain research methods
and findings, interpreting findings in a manner appropriate
for particular audiences.
Assist the agency data analysis, interpretation and
presentation to different state agencies.
Produce annual forecasting and prepare monthly accuracy
forecast reports. Coordinate, compile, edit and document the
entire complex forecasting work done by various state
agencies. Responsible for the design and implementation of
program evaluation studies.
Serve as Project Manager for preparation of fiscal
legislative impact studies.
Supervise data management activities to ensure database
integrity.
Member, Technical Advisory Committee of the Secretary of
Public Safety.
10/88-1/91 Ministry of Finance and Revenue Mogadishu,
Somalia. Assistant Director, Research and Statistics.
A. Initiated a comprehensive study of Somalia’s tax
structure, design and administration.
B. Evaluated the impact of alternative taxes on saving,
investment and income distribution.
C. Collected data of potential taxpayers to assess tax
capacity, tax arrears and tax gaps.
D. Forecasted tax revenues using ARIMA modelling, Typical
Taxpayer micro-simulation
modelling, and GDP-based Macro-simulation model.
E. Forecasted tax revenues and proposed necessary changes to
the Minister.
F Proposed a more flexible tax system that is responsive to
taxpayer concerns.
G. Helped create an efficient and customer friendly tax
environment.
2/85-8/86
Ministry of Finance and Revenue Mogadishu, Somalia.
Director, Excise Tax Department
o Assisted the director in the assessment, supervision, and
the collection of excise tax.
o Monitored and motivated employees reach targeted revenues.
o Mediated and solved disputes between taxpayers and tax
assessors.
o Facilitated inter-departmental exchange of taxpayer
information.
o Helped the director introduce the necessary changes to
make the excise tax system an instrument of stabilization
and resource mobilization.
Consulting Work 6/2008-8/2008
Consultant for the UNDP-QUEST program, Puntland, Somalia.
The QUEST initiative, modelled after the UNDP global
initiative of Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriate
Nationals (TOKTEN), which encourages expatriate nationals to
volunteer their expertise in the service of their homelands
for short periods of time, proposes to bring the skills of
Somali professionals in the diaspora to Somalia on a
short-term, voluntary basis. By doing so, three major needs
are addressed:-
1. reducing the brain drain
2. supporting lasting peace in Somalia
3. increasing participation of the Somali diaspora in the
creation of a conducive environment for sustainable human
development.
Through the project, diaspora expertise is infused into the
national development process and assist key service provider
institutions in the social and governance sectors to improve
their efficiency and effectiveness in delivering social
services and building best practices of management. The
duration of deployment of Diaspora experts ranges from 3-12
months and experts are hired and evaluated by the recipient
organization, though paid by UNDP (air fare and living
allowance). In this way, the project contributes to
deploying Somali expertise to Somali organizations utilizing
the unique perspectives, technical skills, cultural
knowledge and sensitivity of Somali professionals from the
diaspora, thus reducing the dependency on international
experts in development programs and Somali institutions.
Under this program, I taught economics at Puntland State
University in Garowe, Somalia. I also provided lectures to
the faculty of business administration through the training
of the trainers program. Helped also the university on
curriculum development.
11/2005-3/2006 UNDP, Somalia Nairobi, Kenya
Consultant for the Joint Needs Assessment (JNA) on Fiscal
Framework in the Macroeconomic Cluster.
. The Economic Policy (EP) Cluster within the Joint Needs
Assessment (JNA) had the overall responsibility to assess
economic policy and management in Somalia. The EP Cluster is
divided into 6 sub-clusters (Stability and Growth; Public
Financial Management; Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations;
Civil Service Institutions; Monetary Policy and Financial
Institutions; Data Development). Assessing the fiscal
framework needed in Somalia for growth and stability is an
integral part of the sub cluster on Stability and Growth.
1. Undertook an in-depth assessment of the existing fiscal
framework and other financing structures: Budgets for
development plans, User fees for schooling, health service,
etc. and other financing structures in Somalia
2. Assessed the scope for increasing taxation in Somalia
(including forecast of public revenue annually for
2007-2011), built on a review of the effectiveness of
existing taxation, the effectiveness of user fees and other
financing structures currently in use in Somalia, and a
proposal for JNA financing 2007-2011, and the current
pro-poor and non-JNA expenditures, and a suggestion of the
amount of necessary expenditures outside of JNA.
3. Assessed the possibility of designing a tax system that
is both efficient and equitable; a tax system that is
responsive and conducive to economic activity in Somalia; a
tax system that is simple and taxpayer friendly.
4. We put together a framework for a tax system that is both
economically and politically feasible but also easy to
administer.
5. Assessed the need to establish a tax code that is simple
and transparent; a tax code conducive to resource
mobilization both foreign direct investment and domestic
revenue generation.
6. Assessed the revenue generating capacity; total tax-GDP
ratio; and the potential tax base vs. actual tax collections
(tax gaps).
7. Assessed tax gaps and proposed solutions and addressed
the issue of fiscal federalism.
8. Assessed the need for implementing a tax analysis and
revenue forecasting system to assure that the budget is
based on a predictable and reliable revenue data.
11/2005-Present. Resource Person for the African Economic
Research Consortium Nairobi, Kenya
. Reviewed new PhD thesis proposals for students in
degree-awarding universities in Africa entailing an
assessment of the clarity of the research problem,
familiarity with relevant literature, soundness of the
conceptual framework and methodology, clarity of the
proposal, soundness of the statement of the problem and
project design, contribution to knowledge and articulation
of methods used to arrive at various conclusions in the
works. We also assess the technical feasibility of the
project consistent with a 12-month research cycle, and
likely usefulness of the research in informing policy.
. Help students undertake a good research so the students
will know what data to collect, what method(s) is/are to be
used in data collection and analysis, and seminal and other
important literature to be consulted in, say, sample
designs, gathering data, or writing the thesis. Our guidance
will also assist supervisors in overseeing the preparations
of thesis by students.
. Resource persons are also expected to write down critical
points on the theses proposals and/or papers—points that
will form the resource persons’ critical reports on the
theses. These reports are then submitted to the Manager of
the program for onward feedback in writing to the concerned
students and supervisors. Among other things, the report
covers whether the thesis proposal or paper is satisfactory
and can lead to a good thesis (a distinct contribution to
knowledge); what specific changes (if any) need to be made
to improve the thesis research the student is to carry out
(or has carried out); and in the case of any thesis proposal
or paper that we assess as ‘unsatisfactory’, what are the
revisions required so as to shape the future presentations
by the students.
Special Skills Language Skills: English, Arabic, Italian,
and Somali.
Computer Skills: Windows, Access, Lotus, Excel,
Shazam, Eviews, SAS, SPSS, and Stata.
Membership American Economic Association, Southern Economic
Association, Atlantic Economic Society, Public Choice
Society, and the Association of Private Enterprise
Education.
Personal Dynamic, organized and detail oriented with strong
motivational and supervisory skills. Project management and
evaluation experience.
Traveled throughout Africa, Europe, Middle East and USA.
References
Professor Jack Helmuth, Former Dean 810-762-3164 jhelmuth@umflint.edu
Professor Dan Tompkins, Dept. Chairman 716-286-8157 dlt@niagara.edu
Professor W. Mark Crain Dissertation Director 610-330-5315
crainm@lafayette.edu
Professor Walter E. Williams Professor 703-993-1148 wwilliam@gmu.edu
Professor David Ellwood Supervisor at Harvard 617-495-1121
David_ellwood@harvard.edu
 
London, United Kingdom
Xildhiban Publications. |
