Michael Toma

Professor Georgia Southern University

  • Statesboro GA

Professor Toma researches regional economics and public choice

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Spotlight

1 min

Experts in the Media: As the nation faced default, reporters were looking to Georgia Southern for answers

It has been a tense and stressful couple of weeks in Washington as the negotiations about raising America's debt went from the usual political arm-wrestling to facing the reality that the United States may actually default on its debt. The very concept left reporters and experts scrambling to explain what this could mean for the country's economy, civil service and global financial reputation. And when answers, explanations and expert perspective was needed, Georgia Southern University's Michael Toma, Ph.D., was sought out to talk about the effect of a looming U.S. debt default. Georgia Public Broadcasting spoke to Toma, who explained the situation and the impact of not reaching a deal could have locally and on a broader spectrum. If you're a reporter looking to know more about important topics like this then let  us help. Michael Toma, Ph.D., researches regional economics and public choice at Georgia Southern. He's available to speak with reporters simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

Michael Toma

2 min

An eye on the economy: Georgia Southern’s Q1 2020 Economic Monitor: Pandemic slams regional economy, outlook remains murky

Governmental response to the pandemic shuttered much of the regional economy toward the end of the first quarter of 2020, stated Michael Toma, Ph.D., Fuller E. Callaway professor of economics, in Georgia Southern University’s Q1 2020 Economic Monitor. Economic growth ground to a halt as seven of the eight indicators of current economic activity in the region fell. Significant declines were recorded in airplane boardings, hotel sales and port activity.  The business forecasting index fell sharply in the first quarter, as initial claims for unemployment insurance skyrocketed during the last week of March. All six leading indicators declined, and further signs of economic damage will be forthcoming in second quarter data, noted Toma. “Looking ahead, the regional economy will experience sharp contraction in the second quarter, likely extending into the third quarter of 2020,” he continued. “The speed of rebound and recovery will be influenced primarily by how people react to governmental easing of restrictions on business activity. More substantial economic recovery will be delayed until such time that business owners, employees and consumers develop a greater level of comfort interacting with each other in the public domain.”  If you are a reporter looking to know more about the Georgia economy, including areas such as: Regional expansion Employment trends Tourism and Expected deterioration of local business Then let our experts help with your coverage.  Michael Toma, Ph.D., is Georgia Southern University's Fuller E. Callaway professor of economics and is available to speak with media about this topic – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.

Michael Toma

Biography

Toma holds a doctorate degree in economics from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., and began teaching in Armstrong's Department of Economics in 1997 as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor in 2003 and to professor in 2008. Since 2000, Toma has been director of Armstrong's Center for Regional Analysis, a student- and faculty-staffed applied research group focused on the Savannah-area economy that works with many local partners on special initiatives, customized applied business research and impact studies. In addition, the Center publishes the quarterly Coastal Empire Economic Monitor, a closely watched economic report. Toma's community ties are also strong in the area. He serves on the Board of Directors for United Way of the Coastal Empire and on the organization's Executive Committee as chair of the Community Investments Committee. He has also served as treasurer of the Coastal Georgia Greenway organization and as a member of Step-Up Savannah's evaluation team.

Areas of Expertise

Macro & Monetary Economics
Regional Economics
Public Choice

Accomplishments

President, Academy of Economics and Finance

2018

Fuller E. Callaway Professorial Chair, University System of Georgia,

2012 - Present

Armstrong Distinguished Faculty Service to the Academic Discipline

2017

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Education

George Mason University

Ph.D

Economics

1996

Miami University

M.A.

Economics

1989

Miami University

B.S.

Business & Economics

1987

Media Appearances

Georgia Southern’s Economic Monitor reports local economy up, but slower employment growth for second quarter of 2018

Connect Savannah  

2018-11-20

“Continued strength in the labor market lifted the index while the housing market mostly moved sideways during the quarter,” stated Michael Toma, Ph.D., Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Economics and director of the Center for Business Analytics and Economic Research (CBAER).

“Overall, expansion in the regional economy continued at an above-average pace. However, expect slowing growth through the remainder of 2018.”...

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Savannah port expansion could mean replacement for Talmadge bridge

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution  

2018-09-21

Michael Toma, an economist at Georgia Southern University, said the ports expansion projects, and new inland rail ports across the state, are all about increasing efficiency. Together, they will make the Savannah terminal faster and more cost-competitive with other ports. For importers, exporters and shippers, time is money.

“The whole idea there is to increase the speed with which these containers can be handled and processed,” Toma said...

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$127 Million Savannah Port Rail Hub Expected to Take 200,000 Trucks Off State’s Freeways

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution  online

2018-03-28

In Savannah, warehouse vacancy also is a scant 3%, and demand for space is high, said Michael Toma, a Georgia Southern University economist. Cargo services are running larger ships and making fewer port calls, but to accommodate the larger ships means investing in infrastructure both at the harbor and on land.

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Articles

Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment in Central and South America and the Caribbean Islands

Journal of International Business Research

Kathleen Henry, Yassaman Saadatmand, Michael Toma

2015

FDI inflows are sought by many underdeveloped economies. Weak economies, specifically of those countries that are still developing, have relied on FDI for at least ten years to provide national savings, capital inflows, and economic activity. Competition for FDI has increased because of the economic benefits. This study provides some recent evidence regarding the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Central and South America and the Caribbean islands. For this study an unbalanced panel model is used for a data sample of 27 countries covering the time period of 2000-2008. This study yields the following results: rule of law, encompassing political risk factors and the quality of contract regulation, has a positive and significant impact on FDI while total natural resources rent is negatively associated with FDI. An open market to trade appears to be an important determinant of FDI as well as less reliance on workers’ remittances as a substitute for income.

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I Feel Like Shooting Myself in the Face after taking this God-forsaken Class: The Effects of RateMyProfessors. com on University Course Registration

Advances in Management and Applied Economics

Jeremiah Johnson, David Hoover, Jason Beck, Michael Toma

2014

This study examines the effects of RateMyProfessors. com professor ratings on student decisions related to the Fall 2012 course registration period. Statistical techniques including ordinary least squares regression and survival analysis are employed to model course registration. We operate within an applied economic framework in which the supply and demand for course section seating capacity do not fully equalize due to various physical constraints as well as the existence of imperfect information. By further understanding the factors underpinning student decision making, university departmental management is better able to estimate changes in student demand. RateMyProfessors. com reported measures of overall quality, easiness, and attractiveness are determined to be positively related, in varying magnitude, to course enrollment.

Real Estate Brokerage Firm Characteristics and Home Sales Price Outcomes

International Journal of Business and Social Science

Jason Beck, Michael Toma, Anew Page

2013

This paper examines the effect of real estate brokerage firm characteristics, such as size and national affiliation, on home sales outcomes. It uses a hedonic pricing model with data from the Chatham County, Georgia real estate market from 2006 to 2010. The hedonic pricing model yields results that suggest larger brokerage firms obtain higher sales prices, while national affiliation is associated with lower sales price. The results also control for internal and external housing characteristics that are capitalized into the real sales prices of the housing transactions analyzed.

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