Faculty/Staff Directory

First Name
Christopher John

Last Name
Cruz

Email
[email protected]

Picture

Title
Associate Professor

Office
SCB 3122

Phone
(616) 331-7122

Department
Economics

Expertise

• Applied Microeconomics
• Empirical Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics
• Applied Econometrics

Education

• Ph.D., Economics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2019
• M.A., Economics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2015
• Master of Statistics, University of the Philippines Diliman, 2013
• M.Sc., Mathematics (Graduate units), De La Salle University-Manila
• B.S., Economics, University of the Philippines Diliman, Magna cum Laude, 2005

Teaching Areas

• Applied Microeconomics (Labor, Public, Health)
• Empirical Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics

Publications

• Cruz, C., Pulido-Velasquez, M., Alegria-Castellanos, A. (2025). Armed conflict and unemployment in Colombia: the role of US drug interdiction policy. Empirical Economics.
• Cruz, C., Jiang, R., Simpson, T. (2024). Mission Statements: Man vs. Machine. Strategic Finance.
• Schoonmaker D., Cruz C., Lowen A., Veldman C. (2024). Economic Impact Potential and Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in Michigan. Michigan Sustainable Business Forum. misbf.org/msw.
• Cruz, C., Dalmia, S., Pulido-Velasquez, M. (2023). Race and Teaching Evaluations: Evidence from the Covid-19 Pandemic. Applied Economics. 
• Cruz, C., Isely, P. (2023). Digital Assessment Study for Kent County. Grand Rapids, MI: Seidman Business Review/Seidman College of Business.
• Cruz, C., Biby, R. (2023). American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding for West Michigan. Grand Rapids, MI: Seidman Business Review/Seidman College of Business.
• Cruz, C. (2022). Reduced macroeconomic volatility after adoption of inflation targeting: Impulses or propagation?. International Review of Economics and Finance.
• Cruz, C., Dalmia, S., Sicilian, P., Smith Kelly, C. (2022). Second Time Sweeter: Marital Matching Between First and Second Marriages. Journal of International Business and Economics.

Service

• "The Effects of Automation Technologies on SSDI Applications and Awards," with John Nunley (UW-La Crosse) and Alan Seals (Auburn)
• CFS Social Security Administration Retirement and Disability Research Consortium
• Michigan Municipal Solid Waste Economic Impact
• West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum
• Grandville Corridor Study
• Koeze Business Ethics Initiative - GVSU
• "Digital Inclusion Study for Kent County," with Paul Isely (GVSU)
• City of Grand Rapids, 5/3 Bank, Mr. Fred Keller
• "American Rescue Plan Funds Tracking and Impact Evaluation," with Paul Isely and Bobbie Biby (GVSU)
• Grand Rapids Chamber
• "Covid-19 and family businesses resiliency: Does generation of management matter?"
• Family-Owned Business Institute - GVSU

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