Tomi Ovaska

Dr. Tomi Ovaska is a Professor of Economics at the Lariccia School of Accounting & Finance, Youngstown State University. His academic expertise spans Comparative Economic Systems, Public Finance, Political Economy, and International Trade, with a focus on behavioral economics and economic growth.

• Education:
  • PhD in Public Finance, Political Economy, International Economics, and Comparative Economic Systems (2003), West Virginia University
  • MA in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics (2001), West Virginia University
  • MA in Political Science (Allgemeine Staatslehre) (1997), University of Jyväskylä

His research emphasizes the interplay between trust, institutions, and entrepreneurship, often analyzing global economic patterns and policy impacts. Articles like "The Robustness of Trust, Institutions and Entrepreneurship Regressions, Revisited" and "The drug overdose death epidemic: evidence from U.S. Counties" highlight his interdisciplinary approach.

Recent trends in his publications include AI's role in economics education, inflation forecasting, and behavioral factors in entrepreneurship. His work has been recognized with multiple Distinguished Professorship Awards and Top Downloaded Paper Awards from journals like Economic Affairs and World Development.

Scientific Awards & Honors:

• Paul J. Thomas Endowed Chair in Economics (2024)
• Distinguished Professorship Awards for Scholarship, Service, and Teaching (2022, 2020, 2019)
• Elsevier Outstanding Reviewer Award (2018)
• Docent in Political Economy, University of Jyväskylä (2020)

Dr. Ovaska has served as a consultant and researcher across diverse institutions, including the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and West Virginia University. His teaching interests include behavioral economics and economic growth.