Economics Business and Finance

Les R. Dlabay

Professor of Economics and Business, Emeritus

Economics, Business, and Finance

Specialization Areas

International Business
Global Marketing Research in Cross-Cultural Settings
Informal Economic Activities
Microfinance and Alternative Financial Services in Informal Economic Settings 

Research Interests

Geographic, Economic, Cultural, and Political influences of international food packaging
The Latin American Business Environment
Informal Economic Activities and Globalization
Career Planning Activities in a Changing Economic Environment 

Education

EdD Business and Economic Education, Northern Illinois University
MBA DePaul University
BS Accounting, University of Illinois, Chicago

Courses Taught

Global Cultures and International Business Culture in Chicago
Business 470: Latin American Global Business
Financial Accounting
Asian Business Culture & Trade Relations
Principles of Economics
Capital Budgeting
Marketing Research in Cross-Cultural Settings
Financial Management
Social Entrepreneurship
FIYS Chicago Global-Local Microfinance
FIYS Social Entrepreneurship and Community Development in Ethnic Neighborhoods of Chicago
FIYS Chicago in the Global Economy

Books

Personal Finance, 2015, 2012, 2009, 2007, 2004, 2001, 1999, 1996, 1994, 1991, 1988, McGraw Hill-Irwin, Burr Ridge, Illinois.

Focus on Personal Finance, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2008, 2006, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, Burr Ridge, Illinois.

International Business, 4th Edition, 2011, South-Western Educational Publishing Co., Cincinnati, Ohio.

Business Finance, 2008, South-Western/Cengage Learning, Mason, Ohio.

Principles of Business, 9th Edition (2017); 8th Edition (2012); Introduction to Business, 7th Edition (2009); 6th Edition (2006); 5th Edition (2004); 4th Edition, 2000, 3rd Edition, 1997; 2nd Edition, 1992, South-Western Educational Publishing Co., Cincinnati, Ohio.

Personal Financial Planner, 2004, 2001, 1999, 1996, 1994, 1991, McGraw Hill-Irwin, Burr Ridge, Illinois.

Personal Finance CD-ROM Software (Windows version) 2004, 2001, 1999, 1996; (spreadsheet templates-MS-DOS formats), 1996, 1994, 1991, 1988, McGraw Hill-Irwin, Inc., Burr Ridge, Illinois.

How to Pack Your Career Parachute, Addison-Wesley Pub. Co., 1989.

Mastery Test in Consumer Economics, 1984, Scholastic Testing Service, Bensenville, Illinois.

Introduction to Business: The Economy and You, 1986, South-Western Publishing Co., Cincinnati, Ohio.

Planning Your Career in Business Today, Random House, 1985.

Research Articles

“Informal Financial Services:  A Proposed Research Agenda,” to be published in Management, Society, and the Informal Economy:  An Agenda for Theory and Research,” Routledge, 2015.

“Informal and Alternative Financial Services in Base-of-the-Pyramid Settings:  Implications for Teaching and Research,” 2013 Conference Proceedings of the Midwest Academy of International Business.

“Global Entrepreneurship Framework:  Strategic Planning Instruction for Doing Business in MNC, SME, and BoP Markets,” 2013 Conference Proceedings of the Operations Management and Entrepreneurship Association.

“Teaching International Business” for 2013 Yearbook of the National Business Education Association.

Alternative Financial Services:  An Essential Tool for Informal Entrepreneurs” in the upcoming Entrepreneurship in the Informal Economy:  Models, Approaches and Prospects for Economic Development (Routledge, 2012).

“Preparing Students for Doing Business with the ‘Forgotten Majority’:  Curriculum Strategies and Research Activities for ‘Base of the Pyramid’ Instruction”, 2012 Conference Proceedings of the Academy of International Business.

“Cross-Cultural and International Entrepreneurship,” in 2010 Yearbook of the National Business Education Association.

“Alternative Financial Services in Developing Economies,” Business Education Forum, Dec. 2009.

“The ‘Hidden’ World of the Informal Economy:  Curriculum Implications and Instructional Strategies,” Business Education Forum, October 2008. 

“International Business,” in Effective Methods of Teaching Business Education, 2008 Yearbook of the National Business Education Association.

“A Regional Comparison of Informal Foreign Exchange Activities:  A Qualitative Analysis,” 2007 Conference Proceedings of the Midwest Academy of International Business.

“International Business,” in Effective Methods of Teaching Business Education in the 21st Century, 2003 Yearbook of the National Business Education Association.

“A Survey of Exporting Activities with Implications for International Business Instruction,” 2002 Delta Pi Epsilon Research Conference Book of Readings.

“A Qualitative Study of Informal Retail Markets:  Implications for Globalization,” 2002 Conference Proceedings of the Midwest Decision Science Institute.

“Cyber Space Meets Face-to-Face Instruction:  Integrating Online Learning in Traditional Settings,” 2002 Conference Proceedings of the Midwest Decision Science Institute.

“Globalization and Informal Economic Activities:  Is There a Connection?”  Third World Conference, 2002.

“E-Commerce and Globalization: Issues, Implications, and Instructional Strategies,” Journal for Global Business Education, June 2001

Global E-Commerce: Curriculum Planning and Instructional Strategies,” Conference Proceedings of the Midwest Academy of International Business, 2001

“Globalization and Informal Retailing in Latin America: What is the Relationship?,” Conference Proceedings of the Marketing Management Association, 2001

“Globalization and Informal Retail Markets in Latin America: Curriculum Implications and Instructional Strategies,” International Business and Economics Conference, St. Norbert College, 2000.

“Experiential Projects and Internet Activities for Global Business Instruction,” Conference Proceedings of the Western Decision Sciences Institute, 2000.

“Globalization and Informal Retailing Markets in Latin America: Implications for Economic Development and Social Reform,” Conference Proceedings of the Midwest Decision Sciences Institute, 2000.

“Experiential Projects and Internet Activities for E-Commerce Instruction for International Business Education,” Conference Proceedings of the Midwest Decision Sciences Institute, 2000.

“Informal Retailing in Latin America: Causes, Consequences, and Future Prospects,” Conference Proceedings of the Midwest Academy of International Business, 2000.

“Globalization and Informal Retail Markets in Latin America: Field Research Experiences and Cross-Discipline Content for the Liberal Arts Curriculum,” Teaching Latin America in a Liberal Arts College Conference, Wabash College, 1999.

“An Integrated, Experiential-Based International Business Program in the Liberal Arts College,” International Business and Economics Conference, St. Norbert College, 1999.

“The Global Business Plan: An Entrepreneurial Student Experience,” National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators, 1999.

“Assessing Economic and Social Influences of Globalization in Latin America,” Conference Proceedings of the Midwest Academy of International Business, 1999.

“Integrated Curriculum Planning for International Business Education: Analysis of Global Business Trends,” Delta Pi Epsilon Journal, Summer, 1998.

“A Framework for Selecting Data Collection Methods for Cross-Cultural Research,” 1998 Conference Proceedings of the Delta Pi Epsilon Research Conference.

“A Multi-Disciplinary Approach for an Integrated International Business Curriculum for High School and College Programs,” 1998 Conference Proceedings of the Delta Pi Epsilon Research Conference.

“Globalization: International Trend and Business Education Opportunity,” 1997 Yearbook of the National Business Education Association.

“The Use of the ‘Shopping List’ Projective Technique to Assess Nutritional Awareness,” 1993 Midwest Association for Public Opinion Research Conference.

“Should We Watch or Ask? Data Collection Methods for Researching Young Consumers,” 1991 Conference Proceedings of the American Council on Consumer Interests.

“Data Collection for International Consumer Research: Issues and Methods,” in Marketing Theory and Practice: Developments for the 90s, 1989 Proceedings of the Atlantic Marketing Association.

“Analysis Alternatives for Psychographic Data,” 1988 Conference Proceedings for the Academy of Marketing Science.

“Qualitative Research: Its Contributions, Data Collection Methods, and Continuing Controversies,” 1988 Conference Proceedings of the American Council on Consumer Interests.

“Current Topics, Techniques, and Technologies for Teaching Personal Finance,” 1988 Proceedings of the Special Topics Division of the Midwest Business Administration Association.

Instructional Resources

Global Business Plan CD-ROM, McGraw-Hill-Irwin, 1999, revised, updated 2000, 2001.

Choices and Decisions (Personal Financial Planning Instructional Unit for secondary school and continuing education), VISA, 1999.

Instructor’s manual, student activity book, testing program for Introduction to Business, 1997, South-Western Educational Publishing Co., Cincinnati, Ohio.

Instructor’s manual, student activity book, testing program for Business in a Global Economy, 1996, South-Western Educational Publishing Co., Cincinnati, Ohio.

Instructor’s notes for Applications in Basic Marketing, readings book, Irwin-McGraw Hill, 1992, updated 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997. 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001.

Instructor’s manual for Principles of Marketing video series, Richard D. Irwin, 1990.

Instructor’s manual, lecture notes, test bank, student resource guide, transparency notes for Personal Finance, McGraw Hill-Irwin., Inc., 1988, 1991, 1994, 1996.

Scripts for International Business video series, Madonna University, Livonia, Michigan, U.S. Department of Education Grant.

Instructor’s resource guide, lecture notes transparencies and teaching notes for Management, Richard D. Irwin, Inc., 1990.

Instructor’s manual, lecture notes, and transparencies for Marketing Management, Richard D. Irwin, Inc., 1990.

Instructional transparencies and teaching notes for Introduction to Business, South-Western Publishing Co., 1989.

Course planning guide, lecture notes, instructor’s manual, test bank, and student resource manual for Personal Finance, Richard D. Irwin., Inc., 1988.

Instructional transparencies and teaching notes for Marketing, McGraw-Hill Co., 1988.

Student resource supplement for Principles of Management, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1986.

Instructor’s lecture supplement for Principles of Management, William C. Brown Publishing Co., 1986.

Instructional supplements and computer simulation for Introduction to Business: The Economy and You, South-Western Publishing Co., 1986.

Student resource guide for Contemporary Personal Finance, Random House, 1985.

Information technology chapter for Personal Business Management, South-Western Publishing Co., 1985.

Student resource supplement, testing program for Decisions: Making Personal Economic Choices, EMC Publishing, 1985.

Selected chapters of student supplement and instructor’s manual for The American Consumer, McGraw-Hill Co., 1984.

The Health Care Consumer, instructional unit, J. Weston Walch Publishing Co., 1984.

“Personal Finance in America’s Schools Today,” Teaching Notes, American Council of Life Insurance, 1983.

Testing program, Introduction to Business, West Pub. Co., 1983.

Personal and Family Financial Planning: Strategies for Teaching, American Council of Life Insurance, 1982.

Consumer credit, investment chapters for General Business: Our Business and Economic World, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1982.

Student activities, instructor resources, Money Management: Guide to Saving, Spending, & Investing, Bobbs-Merrill Pub. Co., 1981.

Awards and Honors

Great Teacher Award, Lake Forest College, 1994, 2005.

Stewart M. Lee Consumer Education Award, American Council on Consumer Interests, for significant contributions to consumer education in the areas of teaching, research, and service, 1993.

Gladys Bahr Award, Illinois Consumer Education Association, outstanding contribution to consumer education, 1983.

Robert E. Slaughter Research Award, McGraw-Hill Book Co., outstanding doctoral research in business and economic education, 1981.

Maxwell Graduate Student Award, Northern Illinois University, professional and community service, 1981.

Illinois Council on Economic Education, Teaching Award for Personal and Consumer Economics, 1976.

Joint Council on Economic Education, Honorable Mention, Awards Program for Teaching Economics, 1975.