Economics Business and Finance

Amanda Felkey

Amanda J. Felkey

Professor of Economics

Economics Business and Finance

Specializations:

Microeconomics
Behavioral Economics
Unconscious Bias
Poverty, Inequality & Discrimination

Education

Diversity & Inclusion Certificate Cornell University
PhD Cornell University
MA Cornell University
MS Montana State University
BA with Distinction in Economics, Carleton College

Courses Taught

Economics 130: Applied Statistics
Economics 210: Intermediate Microeconomics
Economics 265: Poverty, Inequality and Discrimination
Economics 330: Econometrics
Economics 381: Development Economics
Economics 380: Game Theory
Economics 483: Behavioral Economics and Finance
FIYS: Mapping Chicago

Awards, Honors & Grants

Selected for The Best of the 2020 Leadership in Higher Education Conference.  (“The Inclusion Habit” was one of the most-viewed presentations of the 2020 Leadership in Higher Education Conference.)

Michael Szenberg Prize for the Best Article Published in The American Economist during the 2018 calendar year. (Do Restrictions Beget Responsibility: The Case of US Abortion Legislation).

European Journal of Development Research Best Paper Prize 2014. (Husbands, Wives and the Peculiar Economics of Household Public Goods and Bads).

Selected to Represent Best Content in Eastern Economic Journal (Will you Covenant Marry me?  An Empirical Look at a New Type of Marriage)

Research Mentoring Grants: 2011 ($7,000), 2012 ($7,000), 2013 ($7,500), 2014 ($9,000), 2015 ($10,000), 2016 ($19,000), 2017 ($19,500), 2018 ($23,200), 2019 ($24,000), 2020 ($18,125)

Faculty Summer Research Grants: 2010 ($1,880), 2018 ($4,000)

First place student paper competition, Southwestern Economic Association Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX. (Will you Covenant Marry me? An Empirical Look at a New Type of Marriage). April 2006.

Presidential Graduate Scholarship, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT.  1991-2001.

Distinction in Economics based on academic performance and Senior Comprehensive Project, Carleton College, Northfield, MN.  (The effects of the transition from a planned to market economy on the fertility of women, the specific case of Bulgaria.)  June 1999.

Publications
  • Felkey, Amanda J and Cassondra Batz-Barbarich (2021). “Can Women Teach Math (And Be Promoted)? A Meta-Analysis of Student Evaluations of Teaching.” American Economic Review—Papers and Proceedings. (Forthcoming) 

  • Felkey, Amanda J, Eva Dziadula, Eric Chiang and Jose Vazquez (2021). “Microcommitments: The Effect of Small Commitments on Student Success.” American Economic Review—Papers and Proceedings. (Forthcoming)

  • Felkey, Amanda J (2020). “The Inclusion Production Function: How to Overcome the Pitfalls of Programming and Policy.” Profiles in Diversity Journal, Spring 2020 issue, pp. 102-105.
  • Felkey, Amanda J (2020). “How can you Remain Profitable Post-COVID 19? Invest in your Workforce, Particularly Leaders.” Chief Learning Officer Magazine, website.
  • Felkey, Amanda J (2020). “Flex Your Empathy Muscles While You Wash Your Hands.” Profiles in Diversity Journal, website.
  • Felkey, Amanda J (2020). “Overconfidence, the Pitfall of Programming and Policy.” Profiles in Diversity Journal, Winter 2019-20 issue, pp. 58-61.
  • Felkey, Amanda J (2019). “The Inclusion Habit.” Profiles in Diversity Journal, Fall 2019 issue, pp. 52-57.
  • Felkey, Amanda J. (2018). “Covenant Marriages: Increasing Commitment or Costs?” Eastern Economic Journal. vol. 44, issue 1, pp. 49-68.
  • Felkey, Amanda J and Kristina M. Lybecker (2017). “Do Restrictions Beget Responsibility: The Case of US Abortion Legislation.” American Economist, vol. 63, no. 1, pp. 58-70.
  • Felkey, Amanda J (2017). “Contraceptive Responsibility: What Determines a Woman’s Choice Concerning Birth Control?” Advances in Sociology, vol. 22.
  • Felkey, Amanda J. and Kristina M. Lybecker (2015). “The Role of Restrictive Abortion Legislation in Explaining Variation in Oral Contraceptive Use”, Clinics in Mother and Child Health, vol. 12, issue 4.
  • Felkey, Amanda J. and Kristina M. Lybecker (2014). “Utilization of Oral contraception: The Impact of Direct and Indirect Restrictions on Access to Abortion.”Social Science Journal, vol. 51, issue 1, pp. 44-56.
  • Felkey, Amanda J. (2013). “Husbands, Wives and the Peculiar Economics of Household Public Goods and Bads” at European Journal of Development Economics, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 445-465.
  • Felkey, Amanda J. (2011). “Will you Covenant Marry me?  A Look at a New Type of Marriage.” Eastern Economic Journal, vol. 37, pp. 367-389.
  • Felkey, Amanda J. and Kristina M. Lybecker. “Variation in Pill Use: Do Abortion Laws Matter?” International Journal of Business and Social Sciences, vol. 2, no. 16, pp. 1-12.
  • Basu, Kaushik and Amanda J. Felkey (2009). “A Theory of Efficiency Wage With Community-Based Sharing.” Oxford Economic Paper, vol. 61, issue 3, pp. 494-516.
Papers Under Review

Felkey, Amanda J and Dimitra Papadovasilaki. “Sexism and Economics: Stereotypes, Personality or Distorted Beliefs?”  

Felkey, Amanda J, Eva Dziadula, Eric Chiang and Jose Vasquez.  “Microcommitments: Mitigating Procrastination with More than a Nudge.”  

Felkey, Amanda J and Cassondra Batz-Barbarich. “Intersectionality of Bias in Evaluation: Evidence from Student Teaching Evaluations. 

Felkey, Amanda J and Dimitra Papadovasilaki. “Are Economists more Racist?”  

Felkey, Amanda J.  “Creating a Poverty Trap or Encouraging More Effective Contraceptive Use?  The Case of US Abortion Legislation.” 

Seminars and Presentations

Jan 2021           “Micro Commitments: The Effect of Small Commitments on Academic Performance.” Conference Paper Presentation. American Economic Association Meetings, Chicago, IL. 

Jan 2021           “Can Women Teach Math (and be Promoted)? A Meta-analysis of Student Teaching Evaluations..” Conference Paper Presentation. American Economic Association Meetings, Chicago, IL. 

Oct 2020           “The Inclusion Production Function.” Conference Paper Presentation. CONNECT-HR. Chicago, IL. 

Oct 2020           “The Inclusion Habit.” Conference Paper Presentation. CUPA-HR Annual Summit. Orlando, FL. 

Oct 2020           “The Inclusion Habit.” Conference Paper Presentation. The Leadership in Higher Education Conference. Baltimore, MD. 

Oct 2020           “The Inclusion Habit.” Lunch and Learn.  Tufts University. Virtual

Oct 2020          “Developing the Inclusion Habit.” Guest Speaker. Future of DEI Series hosted by Joe Santana and HRO Today. Virtual. 

Sept 2020          “The Inclusion Habit.” Webinar. CUPA-HR

Sept 2020i       “The Inclusion Habit.” Webinar. Cornell University.

Aug 2020          “The Inclusion Habit.” Conference Paper Presentation.  CONNECT-HR. Las Vegas, NV. 

July 2020          “The Inclusion Habit.” Lunch and Learn.  Northwestern Mutual Insurance.  Virtual. 

June 2020          “Micro Commitments: The Effect of Small Commitments on Academic Performance.” Conference Paper Presentation.  TeachECONference. Virtual. 

May 2020          “Micro Commitments: The Effect of Small Commitments on Academic Performance.” Conference Paper Presentation.  Magna Teaching Professor. Virtual. 

April 2017         “Do Restrictions Beget Responsibility: The Case of US Abortion Legislation.” Conference Paper Presentation. Population Association of America Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.

March 2017        “Do Restrictions Beget Responsibility: The Case of US Abortion Legislation.” Conference Paper Presentation. MBAA International Conference, Chicago, IL.

Feb 2017            “Do Restrictions Beget Responsibility: The Case of US Abortion Legislation.” Conference Paper Presentation. Eastern Economics Association Meetings, New York, NY

May 2015       “Teaching Poverty 101.” Selected participant. Institute for Research on Poverty, Madison, WI.

March 2014        “CSWEP:  Advice for Job Seekers.” Conference Panelist.  Midwest Economic Association Meetings, Evanston, IL

Oct 2013            “Variation in Oral Contraceptive Use:  Do Abortion Laws Matter?” Invited Paper Presentation. Colorado College Economics & Business Department Seminar Series, Colorado Springs, CO

April 2013          “Incentives for the New Worker.”  Conference Paper Presetation.  Association of Private Enterprise Education Meetings, Lahaina, HI

April 2013          “Mentoring Student Research.:  Conference Panelist.  Association of Private Enterprise Education Meetings, Lahaina, HI

Sept 2011           “Covenant Marriages: Increasing Commitment or Just Costs?” Seminar Presentation. Lake Forest College Faculty Seminar Series, Lake Forest, IL

Nov 2010           “ Learning How to Learn Economics: Do Strategies to Engage Students in Metacognition Affect Performance.” Conference Paper Presentation. Southern Economic Association Meetings, Atlanta, GA

Nov 2010           “Using Student Personality Type to Inform Teaching.” Conference Panelist. Southern Economic Association Meetings, Atlanta, GA

Nov 2010           “Using Spatial Correlation to Introduce OLS.” Conference Panelist. Southern Economic Association Meetings, Atlanta, GA

Oct 2010           “Behavioral Changes in Health Care: The Case of Electronic Health Records.”  Conference Paper Presentation.  WHITE 2010: The First Annual Workshop on Health IT and Economics Washington, DC

Aug 2010          “Covenant Marriages: Increasing Commitment or Just Costs?”  Conference Paper Presentation.  Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics, Annual Conference.  San Diego, CA

Aug 2010          “Behavioral Changes in Health Care: The Case of Electronic Health Records.”  Conference Paper Presentation.  Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics, Annual Conference.  San Diego, CA

July 2010            “Variation in Pill Use: Do Abortion Laws Matter?”  Conference Paper Presentation.  Annual Western Economics Association Meetings. Portland, OR

March 2010        “Covenant Marriages: Increasing Commitment or Just Costs?”  Invited Paper Presentation. Economics Department Seminar Series, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

July 2009            “Variation in Pill Use: Do Abortion Laws Matter?”  Conference Poster Presentation.  International Health Economics Association Annual Meeting. Beijing, China

June 2009           “Variation in Enrollment Committees.” Invited panel participant.  HEDS Annual Conference Greenville, SC

Oct 2008           “The ‘Bailout’: Rescue versus Responsibility.”  Panel Presentation.  Lake Forest College, IL

Oct 2008           “Economic Progress: The Industrial Revolution to American Outsourcing.”  Seminar Presentation.  Alumni College, Lake Forest College, IL

June 2008            Invited participant.  Self-Interest, Incentives, and the Environment, a colloquium sponsored by the Property and Environment Research Center and the Liberty Fund, Inc., Bozeman, MT

April 2008         “Husbands, Wives and the Peculiar Economics of Household Public Goods.” Conference Paper Presentation.  Western     Social Science Association Meetings, Denver, CO

April 2008         “Will you Covenant Marry me?  An Preliminary Look at a New Type of Marriage.” Conference Paper Presentation.  Western Social Science Association Meetings, Denver, CO

March 2007        “Household Bargaining and Prenatal Investments in the Health of Sons and Daughters.” Conference Paper Presentation.  Midwest Economic Association, Minneapolis, MN

Feb 2007             CeMent: Mentoring for Junior Faculty.  Competitive Regional Mentoring Workshop Participant.  Sponsored by CSWEP.  Eastern Economics Association Meetings, New York, NY

Feb 2007           “Husbands, Wives and the Peculiar Economics of Household Public Goods.” Conference Paper Presentation.  Eastern Economics Association Meetings, New York, NY

Feb 2007           “Will you Covenant Marry me?  An Empirical Look at a New Type of Marriage.” Conference Paper Presentation. Eastern Economics Association Meetings, New York, NY

Dec 2006           “Husbands, Wives and the Peculiar Economics of Household Public Goods.” Conference Paper Presentation.   Annual Conference on Economic Growth and Development, New Delhi, India

Nov 2006           “Husbands, Wives and the Peculiar Economics of Household Public Goods.” Conference Paper Presentation.  GPED 50th Anniversary Conference, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Sept 2006          “Will you Covenant Marry me?  An Empirical Look at a New Type of Marriage.” Invited Paper Presentation. Economics Department Seminar Series, Milwaukee, WI

April 2006         “Will you Covenant Marry me?  An Empirical Look at a New Type of Marriage.” Conference Paper Presentation.  Southwestern Economic Association Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX

March 2006        “Husbands, Wives and the Peculiar Economics of Household Public Goods.” Conference Paper Presentation.  Midwest Economic Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL

Nov 2005          “Will you Covenant Marry me?  An Empirical Look at a New Type of Marriage.” Conference Paper Presentation. Understanding and Informing Policy Design—Association for Public Policy and Management, Washington, DC

Oct 2005           “Will you Covenant Marry me?  An Empirical Look at a New Type of Marriage.” Conference Paper Presentation.  Imagining Public Policy to meet Women’s Economic Security Needs, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Sept 2005           “Husbands, Wives and the Peculiar Economics of Household Public Goods and Bads.” Conference Paper Presentation.  Northeast Universities Development Consortium (NEUDC), Brown University, Providence, RI

July 2005           “Husbands, Wives and the Peculiar Economics of Household Public Goods and Bads.”  Seminar Presentation. Brown Bag Seminar, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chicago, IL

March 2005       “Will you Covenant Marry me?  An Empirical Look at a New Type of Marriage.” Conference Poster Presentation. Population Association of America, Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA

Oct 2004               “A Theory of Efficiency Wage With Community-Based Sharing.” Conference Paper Presentation.  Northeast Universities Development Consortium (NEUDC), HEC Montréal, University of Montréal, Montréal, Canada

May 2004              “Efficiency Wages, Community-Based Sharing and Multiple Equilibria.” Conference Paper Presentation. 75 Years of Development Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Aug 2004          “An Alternative Explanation of Fertility Decline.”  Seminar Presentation. Micro Lunch Seminar, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Feb 2003            “The Demand for Children in Bulgaria: A study of Fertility in Transition Economies.” Conference Paper Presentation. Beyond Post Communist Transition, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

Current Projects

Measuring Unconscious Bias among Undergraduates—with an original survey we are testing whether Economics and Finance majors attract students that are more prone to sexism and whether that bias changes over time.

Women in Biz—started in 2014, this organization has grown its on-campus student membership to over fifty, developed an active alumni network of approximately 150, and hosted 13 campus wide events impacting hundreds of additional students.

Congressional Voting in the Realm of Loss Aversion—with roll call data from the US Legislature and Senate we are analyzing whether congressmen are susceptible to the pit falls of loss aversion when casting their votes and considering how risk preference differences between gender matter.

Contraceptive Choice—combining state legislative and policy information with individual data collected by the CDC I analyze how obstacles to obtaining an abortion affect contraceptive choice. Preliminary evidence indicates abortions restrictions may be causing a poverty trap.

Covenant Marriage—marriage certificate and divorce decree data from Louisiana (1971-2016) is used to determine whether covenant marriages are effective in their goal of decreasing the propensity to divorce.