About Us

Faculty Research & Publications

Some current faculty research areas include:

  • Economics of professional sports
  • Socio-economic implications of bioproducts and bioprocesses
  • Farm-level decision-making analysis and risk
  • Labour markets and migration
  • Economics of information and internal migration
  • Economics of higher education.
  • Accessibility of lesser developed countries to financial markets, debt crises
  • International trade and trade barriers in agriculture
  • Antitrust law and economics, competition policy
  • Agricultural economy in the dairy markets
  • Government spending and grants on private research
  • Natural resource economics, trade in precious commodities

Some recent faculty publications include:

2023

Tran, K.C., Tsionas, M.G., and Prokhorov, A. (2023), "Spatial Autoregressive Smooth-Coefficient Panel Stochastic Frontier Models." European Journal of Operational Research, vol. 304(3), 1189-1199.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0377221722003538…

Ghazalian, Pascal L. 2023. "The Arab Spring and Its Implications for FDI Inflows to the MENA Region." Review of Middle East Economics and Finance. Forthcoming.

2022

Ghazalian, Pascal L. 2022. "The Effects of the Arab Spring on Female Labour Force Participation in the MENA Region." Economics of Transition and Institutional Change. Forthcoming.

Ghazalian, Pascal L. 2022. "Economic Growth and Female Employment across Sectors." International Advances in Economic Research, 28(3): 183-185.

Lai, H-p., and Tran, K.C. (2022), "Persistent and Transient Inefficiency in Spatial Autoregressive Panel Stochastic Frontier Models." Journal of Productivity Analysis, vol. 58 (1), 1-13 (Lead Article).
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11123-022-00638-z

Tran, K.C., and Tsionas, M.G. (2022), "Instrumental Variables Estimation without External Instruments." Journal of Quantitative Economics, vol. 20, 489-506.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40953-022-00300-3

Tran, K.C., and M.G. Tsionas (2022), "Efficient Semiparametric Copula Estimation of Regression Models with Endogeneity." Econometric Reviews, vol. 41(5), 485-504.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07474938.2021.1957284?cook…

D.W. Rockerbie and S. Easton, "Race to the Podium: Separating and Conjoining the Car and Driver in F1 Racing", Applied Economics, 2022, 1-14.

Fakih, Ali, and Pascal L. Ghazalian. 2021. "Did the Arab Spring Lead to Economic, Institutional and Sociopolitical Changes? An Empirical Analysis through the Perceptions of Egyptian Youth." International Journal of Social Economics, 48(11): 1658-1676.

2021

Nicol, L., and Nicol, C. (2021). Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils - Their Impact on Municipal Watershed Management and Planning. Alberta Real Estate Foundation Grant, Author: Lethbridge, Alberta.

Nicol, L., and Nicol, C. (2021). Adoption of Precision Agriculture in Alberta Irrigation with Implications for Sustainability. Journal of Rural and Community Development, 16(1), 152-174.

Ghazalian, Pascal L., and Mohammad Hammoud. 2021. "The Peace Level of Nations: An Empirical Investigation into the Determining Factors." Defence and Peace Economics, 32(5): 509-532.

Prokhorov, A., K.C. Tran, and M.G. Tsionas (2021), "Estimation of Semi- and Nonparametric Stochastic Frontier Models with Endogenous Regressors." Empirical Economics, vol. 60 (Special Issue, 6), 3043-3068.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00181-020-01941-0

Fakih, Ali, and Pascal L. Ghazalian. 2021. "Did the Arab Spring Lead to Economic, Institutional and Sociopolitical Changes? An Empirical Analysis through the Perceptions of Egyptian Youth." International Journal of Social Economics, 48(11): 1658-1676.

Ghazalian, Pascal L., and Mohammad Hammoud. 2021. "The Peace Level of Nations: An Empirical Investigation into the Determining Factors." Defence and Peace Economics, 32(5): 509-532.

2020

Nicol, L. (2020). Economic Benefits and Technological Advancements - Two Studies of Irrigation Agriculture in Alberta. Invited speaker, Ag Expo, Lethbridge, Alberta, February.

D.W. Rockerbie, "Violence and Risky Behavior in Professional Sports" in Zimmerman, K. (Eds.), Handbook of Labour, Human Resources and Population Economics, Springer, 2020.

D.W. Rockerbie and S. Easton, Contract Options for Buyers and Sellers of Talent in Professional Sports, Palgrave Macmillan Publishers, 2020.

D.W. Rockerbie, "Revenue Sharing and Collusive Behaviour in the Major League Baseball Posting System", Economies, 8(3), 2020, 1-12.

Kutlu, L., K.C. Tran, and M.G. Tsionas (2020), "Unknown Latent Structure and Inefficeincy in Panel Stochastic Frontier Models." Journal of Productivity Analysis, vol. 54(1), 75-86.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11123-020-00584-8

Kutlu, L., K.C. Tran, and E.G. Tsionas (2020), "A Spatial Stochastic Frontier Model with Endogenous Frontier and Environmental Variables." European Journal of Operational Research, vol. 286(1), 389-399.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0377221720302344

Tran, K.C., M.G. Tsionas, and E. Mamatzakis (2020), "Why Fully Efficient Banks Matter? A Nonparametric Stochastic Frontier Approach in the Presence of Fully Efficient Banks." Empirical Economics, vol. 58(6), 2733-2760.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00181-018-01618-9

Fakih, Ali, Pascal L. Ghazalian, and Nancy Ghazzawi. 2020. "The Effects of Power Outages on the Performance of Manufacturing Firms in the MENA Region." Review of Middle East Economics and Finance, 16(3), Article 20200011.

Cardwell, Ryan, and Pascal L. Ghazalian. 2020. "COVID-19 and International Food Assistance: Policy Proposals to Keep Food Flowing." World Development, 135, Article 105059.

Cardwell, Ryan, and Pascal L. Ghazalian. 2020. "The Effects of Untying International Food Assistance: The Case of Canada — Authors' Response to Comment." American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 102(4): 1081-1082.

Cardwell, Ryan, and Pascal L. Ghazalian. 2020. "The Effects of Untying International Food Assistance: The Case of Canada." American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 102(4): 1056-1078. [Lead Article].

2019

Ghazalian, Pascal L., and Bahareh Mosadegh Sedghy. 2019. "Changes in Canada's Preferential Trade Network and the Welfare Effects in Agricultural Markets." The Estey Journal of International Law and Trade Policy, 20(1): 28-48.

Ghazalian, Pascal L., and Frederick Amponsem. 2019. "The Effects of Economic Freedom on FDI Inflows: An Empirical Analysis." Applied Economics, 51(11): 1111-1132.

Ghazalian, Pascal L. 2019. "Canada's Beef Exports: Border Effects and Prospects for Market Access." Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 67(1): 53-74.

Nicol, L. (2019). Adoption of Precision Agriculture in the Taber Irrigation District. Invited speaker, Family Farm Forum - Focus on Women, Lethbridge, Alberta, November.

Nicol, L. (2019). Precision Agriculture in Irrigation in Southern Alberta. Presented to the Precision Agriculture Community of Practice, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, October.

Nicol, L. (2019). Adoption of Precision Agriculture in the Taber Irrigation District. Invited speaker, Alberta Irrigation Districts Association Conference, Calgary, Alberta, February.

Nicol, L. and Nicol, C. (2019). Advancements in Irrigation Agriculture with Implications for Economic and Community Development and Environmental Stewardship in Southern Alberta. Alberta Real Estate Foundation Grant. Author: Lethbridge, Alberta.

Nicol, L. (2019). Irrigation: A Driver of the Economy and Environmental Sustainability. The Meander, Spring/Summer, Milk River Watershed Council Canada, 7.

Ghazalian, Pascal L., and Bahareh Mosadegh Sedghy. 2019. "Changes in Canada's Preferential Trade Network and the Welfare Effects in Agricultural Markets." The Estey Journal of International Law and Trade Policy, 20(1): 28-48.

Ghazalian, Pascal L., and Frederick Amponsem. 2019. "The Effects of Economic Freedom on FDI Inflows: An Empirical Analysis." Applied Economics, 51(11): 1111-1132.

D.W. Rockerbie, "The Importance of Domestic Football Leagues to International Performance: Predicting FIFA Points", Soccer and Society, 20(1), 2019, 21-38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2016.1267627

D.W. Rockerbie and S. Easton, "Of Bricks and Bats: New Stadiums, Talent Supply and Team Performance in Major League Baseball", Journal of Sports Economics, 20(1), 2019, 3-24. DOI10.1177/1527002517723049

D.W. Rockerbie and S. Easton, "Economic Issues of the National Hockey League: A Survey", in B. Humpheys et al (ed.), Handbook of Sports Economics, Sage Publications. 2019.

Kutlu, L., K.C. Tran, and M.G. Tsionas (2019), "A Time-Varying True Individual Effects Model with Endogenous Regressors." Journal of Econometrics, vol. 211(2), 539-559.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304407619300922

Tsionas, M.G., K.C. Tran, and P. Michaelides (2019), "Bayesian Inference in Threshold Stochastic Frontier Models." Empirical Economics, vol. 56(2), 399-422.

Kutlu, L., and K.C. Tran (2019), "Heterogeneity and Endogeneity in Panel Stochastic Frontier Models." In "Panel Data Econometrics, Volume I: Theory." Edited by M.G. Tsionas, published by Elsevier. Chapter 5, 131-146.

2018

Cardwell, Ryan, and Pascal L. Ghazalian. 2018. "The Effects of Aid Agency Independence on Bilateral Aid Allocation Decisions." World Development, 106, 136-148.

Ghazalian, Pascal L. 2017. "The Effects of NAFTA/CUSFTA on Agricultural Trade Flows: An Empirical Investigation." Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 65(2): 219-248.

D.W. Rockerbie and A. Barajas (eds.), Topics in Sports Finance, International Journal of Sports Finance Special Issue, 6(3), 2018.

D.W. Rockerbie and S. Easton, "Revenue Sharing in Major League Baseball: The Moments that Meant So Much", International Journal of Financial Studies, 6(3), 2018, 71-83.

D.W. Rockerbie, "The Invariance Principle in Baseball: Further Evidence", Applied Economics, 50(23), 2018, 2613-2621. DOI10.1080/00036846.2017.1403561

2017

Ghazalian, Pascal L. 2017. "The Effects of NAFTA/CUSFTA on Agricultural Trade Flows: An Empirical Investigation." Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 65(2): 219-248.

Ghazalian, Pascal L., and Ali Fakih. 2017. "R&D and Innovation in Food Processing Firms in Transition Countries." Journal of Agricultural Economics, 68(2): 427-450.

D.W. Rockerbie and S. Easton, "Revenue Sharing in Professional Sports Leagues as a Hedge for Exchange Rate Risk", International Journal of Sport Finance, 12(4), 2017, 342-358.

D.W. Rockerbie, "Fighting as a Profit Maximizing Strategy in the American Hockey League", In Breaking the Ice: The Economics of Hockey, edited by Bernd Frick (University of Paderborn), Springer Press, 2017.

2016

Ghazalian, Pascal L. 2016. "Processed Food Trade of Greece with EU and Non-EU Countries: An Empirical Analysis." International Journal of Food and Beverage Manufacturing and Business Models, 1(2): 15-30.

Tran. K.C. and E.G. Tsionas (2016), “Series Estimation of Functional-Coefficient Partially Linear Regression Model.” Communications in Statistics: Theory and Methods (Forthcoming).

Tran, K.C. and E.G. Tsionas (2016), “Zero-Inefficiency Stochastic Frontier Models with Varying Mixing Proportion: A Semiparametric Approach.” European Journal of Operational and Research, 249, pp. 1113-1123.

Finnie, R., Mueller, R.E., & Sweetman, A. 2016. “The Cultural Determinants of Access to Post-Secondary (Higher) Education in Canada: Empirical Evidence and Policy Implications,“ in B. Jongbloed & H. Vossensteyn (Eds.). Access and Expansion Post-Massification: Opportunities and Barriers to Further Growth in Higher Education Participation. London and New York: Routledge, 150-178.

D.W. Rockerbie, “Fighting as a Profit Maximizing Strategy in the American Hockey League”, forthcoming in Breaking the Ice: The Economics of Hockey edited by Bernd Frick (University of Paderborn), Springer Press, 2016.

D.W. Rockerbie, “The Demand for Violence in Professional Hockey: Further Evidence”, Applied Economics, forthcoming 2016. Available at http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00036846.2015.1078446.

D.W. Rockerbie, “Exploring Inter-League Parity in North America: The NBA Anomaly”, Journal of Sports Economics, forthcoming 2016. Available at http://jse.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/04/17/1527002514529795

2015

Fakih, Ali, and Pascal L. Ghazalian. 2015. "What Factors Influence Firm Perceptions of Labour Market Constraints to Growth in the MENA Region?" International Journal of Manpower, 36(8): 1181-1206.

Cardwell, Ryan, and Pascal L. Ghazalian. 2015. "The TRIPS Agreement as a Coercive Threat: Estimating the Effects of Trade Ties on IPR Protection Regimes." Global Economy Journal, 15(2): 257-275.

Ghazalian, Pascal L. 2015. "The New Tomato Suspension Agreement: What are the Implications for Trade Flows?" Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 63(3): 359-380.

Ghazalian, Pascal L. 2015. "On the Magnitude of the Geographic Distance Effect on Primary Agricultural and Processed Food Trade." Agribusiness: An International Journal, 31(2): 148-170.

Fakih, Ali, and Pascal L. Ghazalian. 2015. "Female Employment in MENA's Manufacturing Sector: The Implications of Firm-Related and National Factors." Economic Change and Restructuring, 48(1): 37-69.

Tran, K.C. and E.G. Tsionas (2015), “Endogenous Stochastic Frontier Models: Copula Approach without External Instruments.” Economics Letters, 133, pp. 85-88.

Wang, Jinxia, K.K. Klein, Henning Bjornlund, Lijuan Zhang and Wencui Zhang. 2015. Changing to more efficient irrigation technologies in southern Alberta (Canada). Water International 40(7): 1040-1058.

Childs, S., Finnie, R., & Mueller, R.E. 2015. “Why Do So Many Children of Immigrants Attend University? Evidence for Canada,” Journal of International Migration and Integration.

Finnie, R., Mueller, R.E., & Wismer A. 2015. “Access and Barriers to Post-secondary Education in Canada: Evidence from the YITS,” Canadian Journal of Higher Education 45(2), 229-62.

2014

Fakih, Ali, and Pascal L. Ghazalian. 2014. "Which Firms Export? An Empirical Analysis for the Manufacturing Sector in the MENA Region." Journal of Economic Studies, 41(5): 672-695.

D.W. Rockerbie, S.T. Easton, 2014. The run to the pennant: A multiple equilibria model of a professional sports league. Springer Press.

D.W. Rockerbie, 2014. Exploring inter-league parity in North America: the NBA anomaly. Forthcoming in the Journal of Sports Economics.

Tsionas, E.G., K.C. Tran (2014), “On the Joint Estimation of Heterogeneous Technologies, Technical and Allocative Inefficiency.” Econometric Reviews. Published on line: October 21, 2014.

Darku, A.B., S. Malla and K.C. Tran (2014), “Sources and Measurement of Agricultural Productivity and Efficiency in Canadian Provinces: Crops and Livestock.” Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economic. Published on line: February 28, 2015

Tran, K.C. (2014), “Series Estimation of functional Coefficient Partially Linear Dynamic Panel Data Model with Fixed Effects.” Economics Bulletin, 34, pp. 1751-1761.

Ali, Md. Kamar and K. K. Klein. 2014. Water use efficiency and productivity of the irrigation districts in Southern Alberta. Water Resources Management 28(10): 2751-2766.

Ali, Md. Kamar and K. K. Klein. 2014. Implications of current and alternative water allocation policies in the Bow River Sub Basin of Southern Alberta. Agricultural Water Management 133: 1-11.

Mueller, R.E. 2014. “Wage Differentials of Males and Females in Same-sex and Different-sex Couples in Canada, 2006-2010,” Canadian Studies in Population 41(3-4), 105-16.

Finnie, R., Mueller, R.E., & Sweetman A. 2014. “Beyond Financial Considerations: Culture and Access to Canadian Post-Secondary Education,“ Public Sector Digest, June.

2013

Ghazalian, Pascal L. 2013. "On the Relationship between Regional Trade Agreements and Agricultural Technology and Productivity." Agricultural and Food Economics, Article 1(7): 1-18.

Ghazalian, Pascal L. 2013. "MERCOSUR Enlargement: Predicting the Effects on Trade in Primary Agricultural Commodities." Economic Change and Restructuring, 46(3): 277-297.

Tran, K.C. and E.G. Tsionas (2013), “GMM Estimation of Stochastic Frontier Model with Endogenous Regressors.” Economics Letters, 118, pp. 233-236.

Firat Bilgel and K.C. Tran (2013), “The Determinants of Provincial Health Expenditures: Evidence from a Dynamic Panel.” Applied Economics, 45, pp. 201-212.

R.E. Mueller, Evidence from the 2007 National Apprenticeship Survey,” Canadian Apprenticeship Journal 8, 88-106.

Laporte, C., & Mueller, R.E.2013.“The Completion Behaviour of Registered Apprentices in Canada: Who Continues, Who Quits, and Who Completes Programs?” Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training 5(1) (http://www.ervet-journal.com/content/5/1/1).

Hunt, G.L., & Mueller, R.E.2013. “Fiscal Policy, Returns to Skill, and Canada-U.S. Migration: Evidence from the Late-1990s,” Canadian Public Policy 39(1), 153-82.

Mueller, R.E. 2013. “A Note on Canadian Migration to the United States During the 1980s and 1990s,” Applied Economics 45(22), 3197-3210.

D.W. Rockerbie and S.T. Easton, The Run to the Pennant: A Multiple Equilibria Approach to Professional Sports Leagues, New York: Springer, 2013.

2012

Ghazalian, Pascal L., Lota D. Tamini, Bruno Larue, and Jean-Philippe Gervais. 2012. "A Gravity Model to Account for Vertical Linkages between Markets with an Application to the Cattle/Beef Sector." Journal of International Trade and Economic Development, 21(4): 579-601.

Ghazalian, Pascal L. 2012. "Home Bias in Primary Agricultural and Processed Food Trade: Assessing the Effects of National Degree of Uncertainty Aversion." Journal of Agricultural Economics, 63(2): 265-290.

Ghazalian, Pascal L. 2012. "Assessing the Effects of International Trade on Private R&D Expenditures in the Food Processing Sector." Industry and Innovation, 19(4): 349-369.

Tamini, Lota D., Pascal L. Ghazalian, Jean-Philippe Gervais, and Bruno Larue. 2012. "Trade Liberalization in Primary and Processed Agricultural Products: Should Developing Countries Favour Tariff or Domestic Support Reductions?" International Economic Journal, 26(1): 85-107.

Cardwell, Ryan, and Pascal L. Ghazalian. 2012. "The Effects of the TRIPS Agreement on International Protection of Intellectual Property Rights." International Trade Journal, 26(1): 19-36.

Mahbobi, M. and K.C. Tran (2012), “A Short-Run AVAR Trade Model Between Canada and US: A Case of Live Cattle Trade.” Empirical Economics Letters, 11, pp. 725-738.

Delis, M., K.C. Tran and E.G. Tsionas (2012), “Quantifying and Explaining Parameter Heterogeneity in the Capital Regulation-Bank Risk Nexus.” Journal of Financial Stability, 8 (2), pp. 57-68.

Klein, K. K., Robert Bewer, Md. Kamar Ali and S. N. Kulshreshtha. 2012. Estimating water use efficiencies for water management reform in Southern Alberta irrigated agriculture. Water Policy 14(6): 1015-1032.

Dong, Chong, Xiumei Liu and K. K. Klein. 2012. Land degradation and population relocation in Northern China. Asia Pacific Viewpoint 53(2): 163-177.

Klein, K. K.., Wen Yan and Danny G. Le Roy. 2012. Estimating the incremental gross margins due to irrigation water in Southern Alberta. Canadian Water Resources Journal 37(2): 89-103.

Qiao, Guanghua, Ting Guo and K. K. Klein. 2012. Melamine and Other Food Safety and Health Scares in China: Comparing Households With and Without Children. Food Control 26: 378-386.

He, Lixia, Theordore M. Horbulyk, Md. Kamar Ali, Danny G. Le Roy and K. K. Klein. 2012. Proportional water sharing vs. seniority-based allocation in the Bow River Basin of Southern Alberta. Agricultural Water Management 104: 21-31.

Le Roy, Danny G. and K. K. Klein. 2012. The policy objectives of a biofuels industry in Canada: An assessment. Agriculture 2: 436-451.

2011

Ghazalian, Pascal L., Bruno Larue, and Jean-Philippe Gervais. 2011. "Assessing the Implications of Regional Preferential Market Access for Meat Commodities." Agribusiness: An International Journal, 27(3): 292-310.

D.W. Rockerbie, “The Demand for Violence in Hockey” in Handbook of Sports Economics, Vol. 1 edited by Stephen Schmanske and Leo H. Kahane, Oxford University Press, 2011.

LeRoy, D., Amani Elobeid and K. K. Klein. 2011. The impact of trade barriers on mandated biofuel consumption iin Canada. Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics 59(3): 1-18.

2010

Ghazalian, Pascal L., and Ryan Cardwell. 2010. "Did the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture Affect Trade Flows? An Empirical Investigation for Meat Commodities." International Advances in Economic Research, 16(4): 331-344.

Ghazalian, Pascal L., Bruno Larue, and Gale E. West. 2010. "Best Management Practices and the Production of Good and Bad Outputs." Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 58(3): 283-302.

Ghazalian, Pascal L., and Ryan Cardwell. 2010. "Multilateral Trade Liberalisation and FDI: An Analytical Framework for the Implications for Trading Blocs." The Estey Journal of International Law and Trade Policy, 11(1): 192-212.

Tran, K. C. and E. G. Tsionas. 2010. Local GMM estimation in dynamic panel models with varying coefficients. Econometrics Reviews 29(1): 39-61.

Bjornlund, H. 2010. Incentives and instruments for sustainable irrigation. WIT Press Series: Progress in Water Resources, Southampton, U.K.

Nicol, L., Bjornlund, H. and K. K. Klein. 2010. Private irrigators in southern Alberta: A survey of the adoption of of improved irrigation technologies and management practices. Canadian Journal of Water Resources 35(3): 339-350.

Ghazalian, P., Larue, B. and G. West. 2010. Best management practices and the production of good and bad outputs. Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics 58(3): 283-302.

Ghazalian, P. and R. Cardwell. 2010. Multilateral trade liberalization and FDI: An analytical framework for the implications for trading blocs. Estey Center Journal of International Law and Trade Policy 11(1): 192-212.

Darku, A. 2010. Consumption smoothing, capital controls and the current account in Ghana. Applied Economics 42(19): 2601-16.

Yelou, C., B. Larue and K.C. Tran (2010), “Estimation and Inference for Threshold Effects in Panel Data Stochastic Frontier Models.” Economic Modeling, 27, pp. 641-647.

D.W. Rockerbie and S.T. Easton, “The Ebbs and Flows of the Game: Multiple Equilibria in a Sports League Model”, Journal of Sports Economics, 11(2), 2010, 172-185.