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Dr. Alice Kassens

John S. Shannon Professor of Economics, Dir Center Economic Freedom

Location:
101 Francis T. West Hall
Phone:
(540)375-2428

Degrees

  • Ph.D. North Carolina State University, 2005 (Economics)
  • B.A. The College of William and Mary, 1998 (Economics, History)

Research & Teaching Interests

  • Health Economics
  • Labor Economics
  • Econometrics
  • Data Visualization

Scholarly Activities

  • Research Fellow, Institute for Economic Equity, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (2022-present)
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Economics Teaching (2022-present)
  • Webmaster, Virginia Association of Economists (2014-present)
  • Governor’s Joint Advisory Board of Economists (Virginia), Member (2014-2022)
  • President, Virginia Association of Economists (2013)
  • Board Member, Virginia Association of Economists (2008-2012)

Books

  • Alice Kassens and Joshua Hall, Challenges in Classical Liberalism – Debating the Policies of Today Versus Tomorrow (2023). Switzerland: Springer Nature.
  • Alice Kassens, Intemperate Spirits: Economic Adaptation during Prohibition (2019). Switzerland: Springer Nature.

Publications

  • “Teaching Tools: Student Perception of Economics Videos,” Journal of Economics Teaching, 2022, Volume 7, Issue 2 (with Michael Enz).
  • “Theory vs. Practice: Teaching Undergraduate Econometrics,” Journal of Economic Education, 2019, Volume 50, Issue 3.
  • “Chasing Economic Knowledge: Using an Economics Based Scavenger Hunts to Create Comradery,” Journal of Economics and Economic Education Review, 2018, Volume 19, Issue 4 (with Dr. Michael Enz, Roanoke College)
  • “Women’s Asset Ownership and Children’s Nutritional Status: Evidence from Papua New Guinea,” Journal of Social Science and Medicine, 2018, Volume 204, Issue C, pg. 100-107 (with Yana van der Meulen Rodgers, Rutgers University).
  • “Gangsters, Scoundrels, and Thieves: Teaching Economics Using Nefarious Historical Characters,” Journal of Economic and Finance Education, 2016, Volume 15, Number 3, pg. 6-9.
  • “Using Twitter to Improve Student Writing,” Journal of Economic and Finance Education, 2016, Volume 15, Issue 2, pg. 72-77.
  • “Tweeting your way to improved #writing, #reflection, and #community,” Journal of Economic Education, 2014, Volume 45, Issue 2, pg. 101-109.
  • “Do as I say and as I do: An Adaptation of McElroy’s Mentor Demonstration Model,” Perspectives in Undergraduate Research and Mentoring, 2012, 2.1 (with undergraduate students Sara Caudle, Tyler Rinko, and Justin Tuma).
  • “The Wilford Brimley Effect: Diet and Exercise Take on Medicare, Moral Hazard, and the Oatmeal Guy In the Fight Against Type II Diabetes,” Virginia Economic Journal, 2008, Volume 13, 17-31.
  • “Predicting Gen Y’s Performance in Principles of Economics Courses,” (with Dr. Garry Fleming) Virginia Economic Journal, 2007, Volume 12, pg. 1-22

Available as a Media resource for the following topics

  • labor markets
  • consumer sentiment
  • inflation
  • health and health care economics
  • unemployment
  • discrimination
  • mental health and the labor market

Willing to speak to professional, social or civic groups on

  • labor markets
  • consumer sentiment
  • health and health care economics
  • inflation
  • discrimination
  • unemployment
  • mental health and labor markets