Michael Ricks

Michael Ricks is an Assistant Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics at the College of Business, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His office is located in HLH 525, Lincoln, NE 68588-0489, and he can be reached at 402-472-6387 or via email at mricks4@unl.edu.

Dr. Ricks' research focuses on public economics and education policy. His work examines teacher allocations using value-added scores, the impact of career and technical education pathways, and the welfare implications of public service funding. He also investigates the long-run effects of exposure to new places and the pecuniary returns to foreign language acquisition.

His recent publications (2022-2025) span topics in education economics, public finance, and labor markets. Key themes include optimal taxation for renewable energy subsidies, the polarization of higher education funding, and the role of self-selection in policy recommendations. His work often employs empirical methods to evaluate public programs and has significant implications for education reform and resource allocation.