Education
PhD – Economics (University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada)
MSc – Economics (CIDE, Mexico)
BBA – Accounting (INAGHEI, State University of Haiti, Haiti)
ABT - Economics Undergraduate Studies (FDSE, State University of Haiti)
Fluent in English, French, and Spanish
Professional Experiences
Current Affiliation
Assistant Professor
Department of Economics and Finance
Faculty of Management, Vancouver Island University, Canada
Past Affiliation
Lecturer
Research Assistant
Department of Economics, University of Manitoba, Canada
Lecturer
Department of Economics, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Various Universities, Mexico City, Mexico
Visiting Researcher
The University of Dubai
Community Involvement, Research, and Consulting
Trustee
North Cedar Improvement District (NCID), Nanaimo, BC
The Impact of Tourism in British Columbia (Lead Researcher)
Projects in Waiting for Sponsorship
(1) Tourist destinations linkages in British Columbia: Is there room for a common marketing strategy?
(2) The Impact of Tourism on Regional Economies of British Columbia
With the demise of the forestry sector on Vancouver Island, communities must rely on the service sector to earn their livelihood. The promotion and development of tourism activities seem to fulfill that objective. However, it is conceivable that a tourist from Germany, for example, will not likely purchase a ticket to come directly to Nanaimo on excursion, but will do so for Vancouver for the simple reason that there is much more to see and enjoy in the Mainland than in Nanaimo. Similar reasoning applies for other smaller and/or remote communities. Nevertheless, once a tourist sets foot in Vancouver, the drive to visit other areas kicks in after a number of days. This posits quite an interesting research question: should Tourism Nanaimo spend resources promoting Nanaimo in Germany or in Vancouver? Or generally speaking, can there be a centralized marketing strategy promoting the major places of attraction in British Columbia (BC) to the rest of the world, whereas the smaller communities promote themselves within the province? To answer such questions, we first need to determine whether there is any linkage between tourist destinations in BC, and then investigate the importance of tourism for regional economic activities. These research questions fall in line with local priorities in hospitality and tourism for Nanaimo-Cowichan, Nanaimo-Alberni, and the West Coast Communities, and are of interest to municipal, provincial, and federal governments, the hospitality and tourism sector, and other sectors directly or indirectly linked to tourism.
Vancouver Island University (VIU) – Economic Impact Study 2009 (Lead Researcher)
This study estimates the impact of VIU expenditures on the Vancouver Island Economy. Using survey and time series data and advanced time series econometrics techniques, the results show that in the short run a $1 increase in expenditures produces an extra $1.37; after 5 years, a total increase of $3.15 was recorded (the medium run), and in the long run the effect tumbles to $0.68 before dying out. On the aggregate, the university has contributed $2.7 billion to the Nanaimo-Alberni region, $117 million to the Nanaimo-Cowichan, and $53.7 million to the Powell River region over the period 1998-2008. The total monetary impact is $5.7 billion when student expenditures, graduate expenditures, and employee savings are accounted for. The study also reveals that on average, VIU total expenditures, excluding payroll of faculty and staff, potentially finance 1,983 full-time jobs with an average salary of $60,000 per year on the island. The total contribution to employment in 2008 is estimated at 2,197 full time jobs. In 2008, the Vancouver Island economy has created 14,942 jobs; about 3,356 of these jobs are due to VIU’s own and its students’ expenditures if the maximum multiplier impact is used.
International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD), 2003 (Lead Researcher)
This research reviews existing studies on trade-distorting subsidies and their impact on trade in Canada, the US, and the EU15 as well as the measures implemented by GATT and thereafter, the WTO to detect and resolve problems related to over-subsidization and trade disputes. The paper suggests the use of terms-of-trade as a better indicator for the detection and the resolution of such problems.
Consultant
McGraw-Hill Publishing Canada
Pearson Education Canada
Delta Integración Corporativa, Mexico City, Mexico.
Assistant Manager
Office Assurance Vehicules Contre Tiers
Publications
“How do stock prices respond to fundamental shocks in the case of the United States? - Evidence from NASDAQ and DJIA” The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance (forthcoming with T. Eldomiaty) - 2010.
“Is the US Dollar a Suitable Anchor for the Newly Proposed GCC Currency?” The World Economy Journal (forthcoming with F. Balli and M. Osman) – 2010.
“On the Feasibility of Monetary Union Among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries: Does the symmetry of shocks extend to the non-oil sector? Journal of Economics and Finance (forthcoming with F. Balli and M. Osman) – 2010.
Vancouver Island University – Economic Impact Study 2009 (with Raimo Marttala).
“The Patterns of Cross-Border Portfolio Investments in the GCC Region: Do Institutional Quality and the Number of Expatriates Play a Role?”), Journal of Economics and Finance (forthcoming, with F. Balli and M. Osman) – 2009.
“Which Output Gap Measure Matters for the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (AGCC): The Overall GDP Output Gap or the Non-Oil Sector Output Gap?” International Research Journal of Finance and Economics, 35, pp. 7-28 (with F. Balli and M. Osman).
“International Portfolio Inflows to GCC Markets. Are There any General Patterns?” The Review of Middle East Economics and Finance, Vol. 5, No. 2, Article 3, 2009 (with F. Balli and M. Osman).
“Output gap and inflation nexus: The Case of United Arab Emirates“ International J. Economics and Business Research, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2009 (with F. Balli and M. Osman).
“International Income Smoothing and Foreign Asset Holdings” Journal of Economics and Finance, Vol. 34(1), pp. 23-29 (with F. Balli and M. Osman).
“Does a North American Cycle Really Exist? Analysis for 1963-2002” Applied Econometrics and International Development, 7 (2) pp. 109-120, 2007 (with D. Simons)
“A settlement, but not a solution for the value added tax controversy.” Business Mexico. February 1998. Vol. VIII-2.
“Terms-of-Trade: A Criterion for Trade Dispute Settlement”. International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD). Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, (2003). (with Pumulo Roddy)
Conference Presentations
“A Simple But Flexible and Insightful Model for Empirical Research on the Feasibility of Monetary Union Between Small and Large Countries Presented at the Canadian Economic Association Conference – The University of Toronto 2009 (with F. Balli and Syed A. Basher).
“Do Countries of Relatively the Same Degree of Economic Development Share the Same Business Cycle? Presented at the Canadian Economic Association Conference – Concordia University 2006 (with Daniel Simons).
“Does a North American Cycle Really Exist? Presented at the Canadian Economic Association Conference – McMaster University 2005 (with Daniel Simons).
Working Papers
“Risk Sharing and Welfare Gains from Risk Sharing Across GCC members and MENA countries. Who gains more and from what?” (with F. Balli, F. and Syed A. Basher)
“A Simple But Flexible and Insightful Model for Empirical Research on the Feasibility of Monetary Union Between Small and Large Countries Presented at the Canadian Economic Association Conference – The University of Toronto 2009 (with F. Balli and Syed A. Basher).
“On The Road to Monetary Union – Do Gulf Cooperation Council Economies React Similarly to United States' Monetary Policy Shocks?” (under review, with F. Balli, F. and M. Osman)
“Channels of risk-sharing among Canadian provinces: 1961—2006” (with F. Balli, F. and Syed A. Basher)
Awards and Fellowships
2000-2003 University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship
1993-1996 National Council for Science and Technology
1992-1993 Office Assurance Vehicules Contre Tiers