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John F. Olson
2017- Professor Emeritus of Economics, Department of Economics, College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota (a joint academic department with St. John's University,
Collegeville, Minnesota
2008-2017 Professor of Economics
1988-2008 Associate Professor of Economics
1985-1988 Assistant Professor of Economics
Chair of CSB/SJU Joint Department of Economics (2007-2010, 1999-2004, 1987-1990)
CSB/SJU Director of Undergraduate Research & Honors Thesis Program
(August 2001-January 2002)
1981‑85 Assistant Professor of Economics, Department of Economics
& Industrial Relations, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio
1976-81 Instructor of Economics, Department of Economics,
University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
1973-76 Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant to Professors
Stanley L. Engerman and Robert W. Fogel, Department of Economics,
University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
EDUCATION AND DEGREES:
1972‑76 University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
Ph.D., Economics, February 1984
M.A., Economics, May 1975
Areas of Concentration: Economic History and Macroeconomics
Doctoral Dissertation: "The Occupational Structure of Plantation Slave Labor in the Late Antebellum Era" (October 1983,
supervised by Prof. Stanley L. Engerman)
Awarded University Graduate Fellowships, 1972‑1974
1968‑72 DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana
B.A. (with Distinction), Economics, May
1972
Randal L. Wilson Award, Department of Economics, 1972
Omicron Delta Epsilon, 1972
PUBLICATIONS AND SCHOLARLY RESEARCH ACTIVITY:
"Clock‑Time vs. Real‑Time: A Comparison of the Lengths of the
Northern and Southern Agricultural Work‑Years," in Robert W. Fogel and
Stanley L. Engerman (eds.), Without Consent or Contract:
Markets and Production, Technical Papers on Slavery, Vol. I,
W.W. Norton and Company, 1992.
"The Occupational Structure of Southern Plantations during the
Antebellum Era," in Robert W. Fogel and Stanley L. Engerman (eds.),
Without Consent or Contract: Markets and Production, Technical
Papers on Slavery, Vol. I, W.W. Norton and Company, 1992.
"Basic Procedures for the Computation of Output and Inputs from the
Parker‑Gallman Sample, Including a Procedure for the Elimination of
Defective Observations," with Stanley L. Engerman in Robert W. Fogel,
Ralph A. Galantine, and Richard L. Manning (eds.), Without Consent or
Contract: Evidence and Methods, W.W. Norton and Company,
1992.
Member (1989‑90) Academic Advisory Board for Annual Editions: Money
and Banking, James P. Egan (ed.), The Duskin Publishing Group, Inc.,
Guilford, Connecticut.
Review of Robert Skidelsky's John Maynard Keynes: Hopes Betrayed
1883‑1920, vol. 1, published in "Library Journal," September
1986.
Papers and Colloquia Presented:
"Assessing Student Learning in Macroeconomics: A Case Study,"
Midwest Economics Association annual meetings, Chicago, March 2002.
"Plantation Slavery in the Antebellum South," Faculty Development
Committee Faculty Presentation Series, College of St. Benedict, November
1991.
"Slaves, Mules, and Cotton: Livestock and Labor Specialization on
Antebellum Plantations," Midwest Economics Association annual meetings,
Chicago, March 1986; Eastern Economics Association annual meetings,
Philadelphia, April 1986.
"The Men Between: Slave Drivers on Antebellum Plantations," Department
of Economics Colloquium, Xavier University, Spring 1985; Department of
Economics, Widener University, February 1985; Department of Economics,
University of Puget Sound, February 1984; Economics and History
Workshops, DePauw University, October 1982; Economic History and Applied
Microeconomic Theory Workshops, Indiana University, October 1982;
Department of Economics Colloquium, University of Connecticut, December
1980.
"Plantation Operations and Organization of Slave Labor in the Antebellum
South," Department of Economics, College of St. Benedict, March 1985;
Rose‑Hulman Institute of Technology, February 1984; Department of
Economics Colloquium, University of Connecticut, March 1979.
"Some Notes on the Occupational Distribution of the Slave Labor Force
on Southern Plantations," Workshop in Economic History, Harvard
University, April 1977.
"Clock‑Time vs. Real‑Time: A
Comparison of the Lengths of the Northern and Southern Agricultural
Work‑Years," Workshop in Comparative Social History, University of
Chicago, May 1976.
Research‑in‑Progress:
"Estimates of the Antebellum Plantation Slave Occupational Structure"
"The Composition of Agricultural Product in the Sub‑Regions of the
Antebellum South"
"An Empirical Analysis of Slave Drivers on Antebellum Plantations"
additional research topics of
interest:
empirical analysis of plantation slave occupational structure --
temporal changes, age-gender-occupation patters
empirical analysis of slave prices and markets
draft livestock in antebellum southern agriculture
19th and 20th century monetary and financial history
18th and 19th century U.S. economic growth
COURSES TAUGHT:
at College of St. Benedict / St. John's University
Principles of Microeconomics
Introduction to Economics
Principles of Macroeconomics
Macroeconomic Theory
Concepts & Issues in Economics
American Economic History
Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis Market
Structures & Regulation
Money, Banking & Monetary Policy
Economics of Financial Institutions &
Modern U.S. Economic History
Markets
Monetary Theory & Policy
Internships in Economics
Economic History of the 1930s
Research Seminar in Economics
The Bahamian Economy
First-Year Symposium
at Xavier University
Principles of Microeconomics (including honors sections)
Principles of Macroeconomics
American Economic History
Microeconomic Analysis
European Economic History
Industrial Organization
Money and Banking
Independent Study in Economics
at the University of Connecticut
Economic History of the U.S.
Independent Study in Economics
European Economic History
Principles of Microeconomics (including honors sections)
American Economic History (graduate-level)
SERVICE TO DEPARTMENT AND INSTITUTION:
At the College of St. Benedict/St. John's University:
Chair of the CSB/SJU Department of Economics (2007-2010, 1999-2004, 1987-90)
responsible for administration of departmental and college policies,
budget, hiring and reviews of department faculty, course scheduling,
curriculum revision, preparation of departmental reports, department
representative in Social Sciences Division
Member of Department Chairs' Consulting Group (2003-2004)
Member Presidential Task Force on Gender (2003-2005)
Director of Undergraduate Research and the Honors Thesis Program (August 2001-January
2002)
Member Honors Program Council
(2001-2002)
Member CSB Rank and Tenure Committee (1998-99, 2000-01,
2014-17) and Chair 2015-17
Parliamentarian, CSB/SJU Faculty Assembly (2005-2013, 1998-2004)
ex officio Member of the Faculty Governance Coordinating Committee (2001-2004)
Department of Economics Assessment Coordinator (1998-99)
Member Clemens Economics Lecture Committee (1989-94, 1996‑ )
CSB/SJU Learning Enhancement Service New Faculty Mentors Program
(1998-99)
Interviewer for Regents'/Trustees' Scholarship Applicants (1997‑99,
2001-03)
Member Truman Scholarship Candidates Screening Committee (1996-99)
Department of Economics Econ 111 Web Course Grant Project (1997-98)
Department of Economics Scholarship Committee (1996-98)
Department of Economics Bibliographer & Library Liasion (1990-98)
Parliamentarian, CSB Faculty/Staff Assembly (1990-98)
Department of Economics representative and presentations at CSB/SJU
Admissions Office Campus Visit Day and Business Day Programs (1986-92,
1993-94, 1996-97, 1998, 2001)
Member
and Chair CSB/SJU Faculty Goverance Coordinating Committee (1996-97)
Member CSB/SJU Faculty Council on Academic Affairs (1992-93, 1994-96)
Vice‑Chair (1995-96)
Member New Course & Core Designation Sub‑Committee (1995-96)
Member Academic Assessment Sub‑Committee (1992-93, 1994-96)
Representative to CSB Budget Advisory Committee (1992-93)
Representative to CSB Assembly Executive Committee (1992-93)
Member CSB/SJU Joint Committee for Academic Computing (1990-96)
Chair (1993-95)
Member of ad hoc Long‑Range Institutional Computing Planning Committee
(1995)
Member CSB/SJU Institutional Strategic Plan Task Team (August 1995)
Member of ad hoc task teams for designing, developing, and drafting CSB/SJU
Institutional Academic Assessment Plan (Summers 1993 and 1994)
Consulting Member CSB/SJU Academic Assessment Sub‑Committee (1993‑94)
Member CSB/SJU Joint Calendar Committee (1991‑93)
Member Department of Economics Long‑Range Planning Committee (1991‑93)
Member CSB Educational Policies and Planning Committee (1990‑92)
Representative to CSB Assembly Executive Committee (1991‑92)
Member CSB/SJU Joint Educational Policies Committee (1990‑92)
Member CSB ad hoc Task Force for Campus Housing (1990‑92)
Member and Co‑Chair of ad hoc CSB/SJU Joint Academic Integrity Committee
(1990‑91)
Member Core Curriculum Social Sciences Disciplinary Committee (1987‑90)
Member CSB/SJU Presidents' Committee for Class Schedule Revision
(1988‑89)
Chair of CSB Faculty/Staff Assembly (1988‑89)
Chair of Executive Committee
Member Educational Policies and Planning Committee
Member of CSB/SJU Joint Faculty Committee
Auditor CSB Board of Trustees
Chair‑Elect of CSB Faculty/Staff Assembly (1987-88)
Member and Secretary for Executive Committee
Chair of Nominating Committee
Member CSB Selection Committee for St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce
Scholarships (1988)
Member CSB President's Committee to Name New Dormitory ‑‑ Margretta Hall
(1988)
Chair of CSB task force to prepare report of Humanities Division
departments for North Central reaccreditation (1987‑88)
Member CSB/SJU Joint Core Curriculum Committee (1986‑87)
Member of Quantitative Reasoning Subcommittee (Summer 1986)
Member CSB/SJU Joint Honors Program Planning Committee (1986‑87)
Department of Economics Placement/Career Services Office Liason
(1985‑87)
Edited and submitted revised proposal for CSB faculty handbook on
membership and election procedure of CSB Educational Policy and Planning
Committee (February‑March 1987)
Prepared copy for CSB/SJU Admissions Office materials (Spring 1986) and
made presentation to Admissions staff (August 1987, 1989) on Economics
program
Member Department of Economics Curriculum Revision Committee (1985‑86,
1988‑90
Participated with search committees in interviewing job candidates for
Clemens Chair in Economics (1986‑87), positions in Economics (1987,
1991, 1996‑99), and positions in Department of Management (1986‑87)
Undergraduate academic advising and registration
At Xavier University:
Member Board of Undergraduate Studies (1982-84)
Member Department of Economics Common Principles Textbook Review
Committee (1983)
Department of Economics representative on College Committee to Review
Honors/Scholars Program (1983)
Undergraduate academic advising and registration
At the University of Connecticut:
Faculty advisor to undergraduate Economics Club and Omicron Delta
Epsilon chapter (1979‑81)
Member Department of Economics Graduate Admissions Committee (1977‑80)
Member Department of Economics Promotion, Re‑appointment, and Tenure
Committee (1977‑80)
Department of Economics Faculty Secretary (1976‑80)
Committee member & advisor for Master's degree and undergraduate Honors
and Distinction candidates in Economics (1979, 1980) and in History
(1977, 1979)
Undergraduate academic advising and registration
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Professional Memberships and Annual Meetings Attended in [ ]:
Economic History Association [1977‑1980, 1984]
Economic History Society ‑ U.K.
Social Science History Association [1990]
The Cliometrics Society
American Economic Association [1975, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1992,
1999, 2001, 2002]
Midwest Economic Association [1985‑discussant, 1986‑paper presented,
1987‑session chair, 1988‑discussant, 1990‑discussant, 1991‑session
chair, 1992‑session chair, 1994‑discussant, 1995‑98, 2000‑discussant and
session chair, 2002-paper presented and session chair, 2004-discussant
and session chair]
Eastern Economic Association [1977, 1986‑paper presented & session
chair]
American Association of University Professors (1976‑ )
Member CSB/SJU Chapter Steering Committee (1998‑99)
Invited Conferences, Seminars, and Workshops Attended:
CSB/SJU Computing Collaboratorium (June 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002,
2003)
CSB/SJU Scholarship Workshop (June 1998)
McGraw‑Hill & Robert Morris College Sixth Annual Teaching Economics
Conference, Pittsburg, Pa. (February 1995)
Economic Education Winter Institute at St. Cloud State University
(February 1986, 1987, 1990‑91, 1995‑2003)
Critical Thinking Workshop for CSB/SJU faculty at SJU (August 1986) and
follow‑up session (March 1987)
Banking Seminar for College Faculty, Graduate School of Banking,
University of Wisconsin‑Madison (August 1986)
CSB/SJU new Symposium faculty Discussion and Writing Workshops (June
1986, June 1994 presentation, May 2003), monthly Symposium faculty workshops and
meetings (1986‑1988, 1989‑1991), and returning Symposium faculty
workshops (August 1987, August 1994, October 1995)
Central Banking Seminar, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (May 1985)
Department of Economics, Duke University Conference, A Symposium on
One Kind of Freedom: The Economic Consequences of Emancipation
by Roger Ransom and Richard Sutch, Durham, N.C. (February 1978)
Mathematical Social Sciences Board ‑‑ University of Rochester Conference
on Time on the Cross, Rochester, N.Y. (October 1974). Paper with
Robert W. Fogel, "A Comparison of the Lengths of the Northern and
Southern Agriculture Work‑Years," in Robert W. Fogel and Stanley L.
Engerman (eds.), Evidence Relevant to the Post‑Publication
Debate on "Time on the Cross", volume prepared for the Conference,
mimeo, October 1974.
Participant in discussion panels, presented public lectures, and
presented invited class lectures on:
The Use of Regression Analysis in Economics (1994)
The Economic Impact of the Baby Boom Generation (1994)
The 1993 Nobel Prizes in Economics (1993)
The Economics of Slavery (1989, 1987, 1981, 1978, 1977, 1976)
An Economic Analysis of Comparable Worth (1986)
What is Economics and What do Economists do? (1985)
The Economics Major and Liberal Arts Education (1985)
The American Banking System (1985)
Macroeconomic Theories of Consumption (1985)
Careers in Economics (1983, 1982)
What is Supply‑Side Economics? (1982)
Reaganomics (1982, 1981)
Inflation and Its Effects (1982)
Property Rights in Economic History (1981)
The New Economic History (1977)
Additional Professional Activities:
Sabbatical Research Leaves: Spring 1992, Fall 1999
Attended North Central Association Annual Meetings, Chicago (April 1993,
1994, and 1995)
Attended American Association of Higher Education Conferences on Academic
Assessment, Chicago (June 1993), Washington (June 1994)
Member of Consumer Advisory Council, East Central Electric Association
(1990‑92)
Member Focus Group of Cultural Pluralism at CSB/SJU (August 1992)
Member Focus Group on Matriculation for CSB McKnight Foundation Grant
(Fall 1990)
Participated in CSB/SJU Management Department's Organizational Leadership
Program ‑‑ industry computer simulation (1987‑90, 1995‑2000)
Member of CSB/SJU faculty China Study Group (Spring 1987)
Panel member for St. Cloud channel 41 television program, "Perspectives",
on the topics of apartheid and dis‑investment in South Africa (December
1985) This particular panel was selected for taped re‑broadcast (May
1986).
Participant in CSB/SJU faculty discussion group of the book Habits
of the Heart (Fall 1985)
Participant in CSB/SJU Economics, Management, and Accounting faculty
discussion series, "Gender in the Classroom" (November 1985)
Panel member for television panel discussion of the U.S. Catholic Bishops'
pastoral letter Economic Justice for All: Catholic
Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy (Spring 1985)
Member of the Xavier University Faculty Book Group (1984‑1985)
Interviewed for various local television news reports and newspaper
articles on current economic events
Reviewed revisons of Economic History textbook for Rand‑McNally (January
1979 and December 1977)
Reviewed National Science Foundation grant proposals (March 1992, December
1977)
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