Michael J. Hicks Economist and journalist. Date of Birth: 01.01.1962 Country: USA

1. Michael Hicks: Economist and Journalist
2. Military Service
3. Academic and Research Career
4. Coal Mining Research
5. Flood Damage Modeling
6. Hurricane Katrina and Beyond

Michael Hicks: Economist and Journalist

Michael Hicks is an economist, journalist, and professor with a background in military service. He is currently the Director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and Associate Professor of Economics at Ball State University, specializing in the analysis of public policy and national economies.

Military Service

Hicks graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in economics before serving in the United States Army. He held positions within the 26th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Regiment, and the Division Tactical and Assault Command Posts of the 24th Infantry Division. Hicks participated in Operations Bright Star, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm. He retired from the Army as a captain in 1992 but continued to serve as an analyst and leader for the US Army.

Academic and Research Career

Hicks received his master's degree in economics from the University of Tennessee in 1997 and his Ph.D. from the same institution a year later. He taught at the University of Tennessee, Marshall University, and the Air Force Institute of Technology before joining the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University in 2019.

Coal Mining Research

From 1999 to 2005, Hicks worked in the West Virginia coal industry, contributing to the environmental sustainability of mining practices. In a study co-authored with Mark Burton and Cal Kent, he analyzed the economic consequences of various mining restrictions and examined the impact of existing limitations on the local economy and tax revenues. This research was influential in court cases such as Bragg v. Robertson and Kentuckians for the Commenwealth v. Rivenburgh.

Flood Damage Modeling

In 2001, Hicks co-authored a study that found that union wage levels in West Virginia had a negative impact on the state's economy, sparking significant debate. Hicks collaborated with Mark Burton again to develop a flood damage model based on data from the Great Flood of 1993, which estimated damages caused by the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers.

Hurricane Katrina and Beyond

In September 2005, Hicks and Burton used their model to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, proving its accuracy. They later applied it to analyze the impact of floods in Pakistan in 2010 for the Army Corps of Engineers. Hicks continues to conduct research and provide consulting services in the areas of economic development, health economics, and water resource management.