Christopher Oconnor

Assistant Professor of Economics



Hello!

I am an Assistant Professor of Economics in the Economics and Accounting Department at College of the Holy Cross. My research agenda focuses on examining the distributional effects of development policies and programs, how these programs can affect resilience/ vulnerability and poverty, and how policies perform in the presence of heterogeneous agents.

While economic growth makes economic development possible, there is no guarantee that it will lead to welfare improvements of the most fragile groups in society, including marginalized groups and those living in rural agricultural areas of developing countries. With frictions in the market often generated by institutional barriers and self re-enforced behaviors, the role of policies and programs is important in correcting this market failure. This is the motivation that drives my work. My research portfolio tackles this issue utilizing both microdata and experimental data collected in the lab.

I have a PhD and MA in Economics from The University of Alabama, a MSc in Economics from the University of the West Indies, and a BSc in Economics and Statistics from the University of the West Indies (Mona). Before beginning my PhD, I was a Policy Analyst/Economist in poverty and inequality at the Planning Institute of Jamaica. In my spare time I like to explore new places and take pictures of nature.


Research

Teaching

CV (pdf)

Personal

Contact