Tyler Watts, PhD

Tyler Watts, PhD

Professor
Economics
Management
Phone: (231) 591-2465
Email: [email protected]

Education

• PhD, George Mason University, Economics
• Master of Finance, Colorado State University- Global Campus, Finance, Finance
• MA, George Mason University, Economics
• BA, Hillsdale College, Economics

Biography

Tyler Watts grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the son of a devoted mother and an entrepreneur father. Watts began working in the family construction business at age 10, gaining both useful skills and a deep curiosity about the world of business and entrepreneurship. He went on to study economics at Hillsdale College, where he met his wife, Jeanna, in the college orchestra, where they both played trombone.

After stints in the construction and finance industries, Watts earned a PhD in economics from George Mason University in 2010 and began his career in academia. Watts has taught at public and private universities in Michigan, Indiana, and Texas. The Watts have 4 children and reside in downtown Big Rapids, Michigan. When not teaching, Watts enjoys worship and fellowship at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Big Rapids and working on old cars.

Publications and Intellectual Contributions

• Journal Article
  Watts, T., Curott, N. (2022). "The United States’ First Business Cycle: An Austrian Interpretation of the Panic of 1797," Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics. 25 (1). pp. 147-175. Auburn, Alabama: Ludwig von Mises Institute. https://qjae.scholasticahq.com/article/36601-the-united-states-first-business-cycle-an-austrian-interpretation-of-the-panic-of-1797
• Book
  Watts, T. (2021). "Excelonomics: Teaching Economics with Excel, vol. 1: Microeconomics," Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall Hunt.
• Book
  Watts, T. (2021). "Excelonomics: Teaching Economics with Excel, vol. 2: Macroeconomics," Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall Hunt.
• Book Chapter
  Watts, T. (2020). "The Economist Perspective on a Healthcare Safety Net," In D. Sem (Ed.), Purple Solutions: A Bipartisan Roadmap to Better Healthcare in America. pp. 252-265. Mequon, Wisconsin: Remedium Exchange.
• Journal Article
  Watts, T., Curott, N. (2020). "Government-Cheerleading Bias in Money and Banking Textbooks," Econ Journal Watch. 17 (1). pp. 98-151. https://econjwatch.org/File+download/1140/CurottWattsThrasherMar2020.pdf?mimetype=pdf
• Journal Article
  Watts, T., Curott, N. (2018). "A Monetary Explanation for the Recession of 1797," Eastern Economic Journal. 44 (3). pp. 381-399. Mahwah, New Jersey: Eastern Economic Association/ Palgrave Macmillan.
• Journal Article
  Watts, T., Woodruff, M. (2017). "Institutional Inefficiency: Small Farms Starve India’s Economy," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy. 6 (2). pp. 206-223. Emerald. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JEPP-05-2016-0021/full/html?skipTracking=true
• Journal Article
  Watts, T. (2016). "The Puzzle Challenge: A Classroom Demonstration of Productivity Gains through Specialization," Journal of Economics and Economic Education Research. 17 (3). pp. 141-146. London: Allied Business Academies. https://www.abacademies.org/articles/jeeervol-17issue-3.pdf
• Journal Article
  Watts, T. (2016). "Teaching Unemployment with the Jobs Train," Journal of Economics and Finance Education. 15 (3). pp. 95-106. Academy of Economics of Finance. https://www.economics-finance.org/jefe/issues/JEFE-Vol-15-Num-3-Fall-2016.pdf
• Journal Article
  Watts, T., McClure, J. (2016). "The Greatest Externality Story (N)ever Told," The American Economist. 61 (2). pp. 157-177. Omicron Delta Epsilon.

Presentations

• Lecture
  Watts, T. (Presenter), Economics for Opinion Leaders: Health Care Professionals, "The Economics of Healthcare," Concordia University Wisconsin, via Zoom, (January 5, 2023).
• Lecture
  Watts, T., Economics for Opinion Leaders: Health Care Professionals, "The Economics of Healthcare: Problems and Tradeoffs," Concordia University Wisconsin, via Zoom, (December 20, 2021).
• Demonstration
  Watts, T. (Author & Presenter), Association of Private Enterprise Education annual conference, "Excelonomics: Teaching Economics with Excel," Association of Private Enterprise Education, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, (April 12, 2021).
• Lecture
  Watts, T. (Author & Presenter), Healthcare Economics Summit, "The Economist Perspective on a Healthcare Safety Net," Remedium Exchange- Concordia University, Concordia University, Mequon, Wisconsin, (July 31, 2020).
• panel discussion
  Watts, T., LIBERTY, VIRTUE AND ECONOMICS SUMMIT, "Economics of Free Markets, Free Trade, Tariffs and Regulatory Restraints," Batterman School of Business, Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, WI, (September 20, 2019).
• panel discussion
  Watts, T., McAdams v. Marquette: Implications for Liberty and Speech Rights At Universities, "Academic Panel Response," Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, WI, (October 29, 2018).
• Oral Presentation
  Watts, T., Poverty Conference, "Curing Poverty: What NOT to Do," Junior League of Longview, LeTourneau University, (October 20, 2016).
• Oral Presentation
  Watts, T., Public Safety Economics Conference, "The Economics of Public Sector Unions," Indiana Policy Review Foundation, Fort Wayne, IN, (March 21, 2013).
• Lecture
  Watts, T. (Author & Presenter), McClure, J. (Author), Association of Private Enterprise Education International Conference, "The Greatest Externality Story Never Told," Association of Private Enterprise Education, Las Vegas, Nevada, (April 2012).
• Exhibit
  Watts, T., 1862-2012: The Making of the Great Plains, "The High Cost of Free Land: The Economic Impact of the Homestead Act," University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, (March 2012).