James Thorson

James Thorson is Professor and Chair of the Economics Department within the School of Business at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), specializing in real estate and urban economics, land use regulation, and local economic development. His academic leadership spans teaching core business subjects while directing departmental initiatives.

Thorson's research centers on land use regulation and housing markets, with significant contributions to understanding zoning impacts, urban development constraints, and local economic policy effectiveness. His work extends to African economic development through comparative analyses of state-owned enterprises and women entrepreneurs, particularly within ECOWAS member states. This interdisciplinary approach bridges urban economics, development studies, and business management.

Publication trends from 1994-2024 reveal two distinct research trajectories: foundational work on zoning theory and housing market dynamics in the 1990s, evolving into contemporary studies of African economic integration and enterprise performance. His scholarship consistently applies rigorous econometric methods to real-world policy questions across urban planning, finance, and international development contexts.

Thorson has secured multiple research grants including:

• Principal Investigator for "For Hire Transportation Services" (Connecticut Department of Transportation, $5,265, 2014-2015)
• Co-Principal Investigator for "Innovating for the Future School of Business" (SCSU, $4,000, 2019)
• Co-Principal Investigator for "Department Seminar Series" (SCSU, 2012-2013)
• Co-Principal Investigator for "Grant for Assessment workshop" (SCSU, $1,000, 2012)