Matthew T. Cole

Matthew T. Cole is an Associate Professor in the Economics Department at California Polytechnic State University's Orfalea College of Business. He specializes in international trade economics, with particular expertise in strategic trade policy, the political economy of trade, and trade flows. Prior to joining Cal Poly, Dr. Cole served as an assistant professor at Florida International University for three years and at University College Dublin in Ireland.

Dr. Cole's educational background includes:

• B.A. in Economics from the University of Northern Iowa (2001)
• M.A. in Economics from the University of Iowa (2003)
• Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Oregon (2009)

Dr. Cole's research focuses on international trade economics, examining how strategic trade policies affect market outcomes, the political economy factors influencing trade agreements, and the measurement and determinants of trade flows. His work bridges theoretical trade models with empirical analysis of real-world trade patterns and policies. He has published extensively in top economics journals on topics including eco-certification in trade, government procurement auctions, tariff policies, and the determinants of trade agreements in services versus goods.

His publication record reveals a sophisticated integration of game theory with empirical trade analysis, with increasing attention to environmental dimensions of trade policy. His research demonstrates consistent methodological rigor while addressing policy-relevant questions about how trade restrictions affect market outcomes across different sectors and institutional contexts.

Dr. Cole has received recognition for his scholarly contributions, most notably the Brendan Walsh Prize for the best paper published in the Economic and Social Review in 2018 for his work on incumbency advantage and campaign finance regulation.

At Cal Poly, Dr. Cole teaches International Trade at both undergraduate and master's levels, Intermediate Microeconomics, and Quantitative Methods for graduate students. His teaching spans multiple institutions and levels, from Principles of Microeconomics to Ph.D.-level courses in Microeconomics and International Trade, reflecting his comprehensive expertise across the economics curriculum.