David Davis

David Davis is an associate professor in the Department of Economics at South Dakota State University (SDSU), located within the Ness School of Management and Economics. His research focuses on the economic impacts of food assistance programs such as WIC and SNAP, particularly their effects on infant formula markets, food pricing dynamics, and government policy outcomes. Davis has extensive experience in empirical microeconometrics, panel data methods, and cross-sectional/time-series analyses to study market structures and policy effectiveness.

Education:

• B.S. in Economics, University of South Dakota
• M.S. in Economics, University of Oregon
• Ph.D. in Economics, University of Oregon (1998)

Research Interests: Davis specializes in empirical industrial organization, agricultural and food policy, and market power analysis. Key areas include:

• Evaluating WIC’s influence on infant formula market competition
• Assessing SNAP’s role in food insecurity mitigation
• Exploring geographic factors in food plant agglomeration
• Quantifying policy effects using advanced econometric techniques

His work bridges microeconomic theory with practical policy evaluation, particularly in food systems and public welfare programs.

Professional Contributions: Davis has served on committees such as the University Research and Scholarship Committee (chair, 2016–2017) and the National Academies of Science’s WIC Food Package Review Committee (2014–2016). His career includes roles at the USDA’s Economic Research Service and Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration, where he analyzed agricultural markets, competition, and policy implications.

Advising and Grants: While no students are listed, Davis has advised USDA policy research initiatives. His grants and projects likely relate to WIC/SNAP evaluation, though specifics are not detailed in the text.

Labs/Teams: No dedicated lab or team is explicitly mentioned, but his work involves collaboration with USDA branches and academic networks focused on food policy and econometric analysis.