Daniel Farhat

Professor

Economics, Dept of

Address:: Kyle Hall 298
PO Box 6952
Email:: dfarhat@radford.edu

Biography

Greetings friends! I am Dr. Dan Farhat, a dedicated academic and Professor of Economics at Radford University. My ongoing journey through the realm of economics is driven by an insatiable thirst for understanding, a passion for innovation, and a desire to cultivate the citizens of tomorrow.

My story began in California where I earned a bachelor's degree in Economics and Anthropology at the University of California—San Diego. I then pursued a master's degree in Economics at the University of Oregon. I landed at the University of California—Riverside after that where I achieved a PhD in Economics. Along the way, my quest for knowledge has trained me to connect people with the tools they need to make wiser decisions about our limited resources. I am committed to creating active learning environments that develop analytical and innovative business professionals.

My research spans multiple dimensions, including business economics, macroeconomics, international macroeconomics, and artificial social simulation. Throughout my career, I have had the honor of contributing to the academic community through numerous publications and conference presentations. My work on the economics of heroic altruism, gender-neutral toys, and the unintended consequences of violence has been recognized and celebrated by my peers. My studies connecting public interests to business cycles has propelled economic inquiry towards new frontiers. I am passionate about encouraging students to engage in faculty-led research projects and study abroad programs. Over the years, I have supervised numerous student research projects, including studies on COVID-19 policies, the gender pay gap, and the emergence of the space economy. These experiences not only enrich students' academic journeys but also prepare them to tackle real-world challenges with confidence and creativity.

I believe in the power of analytical perspectives and creative exploration to create a lasting legacy. My role as an educator and researcher is to inspire curiosity, foster resilience, and nurture excellence in all who cross my path. As a member of the Radford family, I take pride in the Highlander journey we embark on together. Join me as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of scarcity, embracing challenges and strengthening ties as we find new possibilities. Together, we can create a brighter future, one innovative idea at a time.

Education

Ph.D. in Economics, University of California, Riverside
M.S. in Economics, University of Oregon
B.A. in Economics & Anthropology, University of California, San Diego

Recent Research and Engagement 

My research includes simulation economics, social/behavioral economics, business economics, and macroeconomics. I have studied heroism, violence, toys, mental health, poverty, entrepreneurship, STDs, hunger, business cycles and so much more. I am currently working on simulation studies related to the evolution of mixed economies and state formation in early civilizations. I’m not afraid to push boundaries. For a unique example, check out my 2017 interview with With Good Reason (Virginia Foundation for the Humanities): “SimVampires."

Courses Taught

ECON 101 – The Economics of Everyday Life
ECON 105 – Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 106 – Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 301 – The Economics of Entrepreneurship
ECON 321 – Econometrics
ECON 350 – Investment Economics
ECON 651 – Managerial Economics

Publications- Journals

D. Farhat (2024). Cyclical interest in entrepreneurship and the Virginia economy. Journal of Business and Entrepreneurship, 33(2), 1-28.

A. Stanaland & D. Farhat (2024). Beyond the pink tax: Are Amazon toy shoppers disadvantaged when searching by gender?. Research in Business and Economics Journal, 16(1), 1-15.

A. Stanaland & D. Farhat (2024). Pink toys, blue toys: Marketplace implications of California’s gender-neutral toys law. Journal of Ethical and Legal Issues, 15(1), 1-12.

D. Farhat (2023). The economics and evolution of heroic altruism. Theoretical and Applied Economics, 3(636), 5-20.

D. Farhat & N. Hashemzadeh (2022). A period assessment of exchange rate movements and trade flows between the US and China. Journal of Business and Economic Studies, 26(1), 91-115.

W. Tilson, T. Duncan & D. Farhat (2021). Exploring terrorism, counter terrorism and their unintended consequences. Virginia Economic Journal, 26(1), 6-20.

W. Tilson, T. Duncan & D. Farhat (2020). An agent-based model of ethnocentrism and the unintended consequences of violence. Eastern Economic Journal, 46(3), 483-503.

N. Hashemzadeh & D. Farhat (2020). Has the amplitude of business cycles deepened in the post-World War II era? A variance analysis of thirty-five countries. Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 22(2), 88-100.

D. Farhat, D. Kunkel & J. Quesenberry (2019). Peaked interest: Public interest in hunger and the economic cycle. Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 21(7), 25-38.

T. Duncan & D. Farhat (2019). A note on mutually beneficial exchange and discrimination. Conflict Resolution Quarterly, 37(1), 169-176.

D. Farhat & T. Viitanen (2017). Business ‘psych’cles: A close look at mental health and state-level economic performance using Google search data. Review of Economic Analysis, 9(2), 107-125.

N. Hashemzadeh & D. Farhat (2017). Keynes’ unscientific theory of consumption function and its false policy implication for the multiplier effect: A review of disaggregated evidence. Journal of Economics and Public Finance, 3(2), 225-238.

D. Farhat (2017). Awareness of sexually transmitted disease and economic malady using search engine query data. International Journal of Business and Economics, 16(1), 101-108.

D. Farhat (2016). The performance of artificial neural networks and tier-structured information transmission in identifying aggregate consumption patterns in New Zealand. Journal for Studies in Economics and Econometrics, 40(2), 71-86.

N. Hashemzadeh & D. Farhat (2016). The fable of a stable marginal propensity to consume (MPC). British Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences, 11(2), 1-12.

D. Farhat (2016). An agent-based simulation model of interdisciplinary science and the evolution of scientific research networks. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research Studies.

D. Farhat (2016). The evolution of pro-social behavior and the role of the government. Theoretical Economics Letters, 6(1), 1230-1243.

T. Hale, V. Kahui & D. Farhat (2015). Wood or carbon? A modified production possibility frontier approach to efficient forestry management in New Zealand under the emissions trading scheme. The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 59(1), 116-132.

D. Farhat (2014). Artificial neural networks and aggregate consumption patterns in New Zealand. Journal of Economic Research, 19(2), 197-224.

D. Farhat (2012). Bookworms and party animals: An artificial labor market with human and social capital accumulation. The Journal of Education and Work, 27(1), 1-42.

D. Farhat (2011). Socially-influenced consumption and savings: an agent-based approach. The Business Review, Cambridge, 18(2), 60-66.

D. Farhat (2011). Virtually science: An agent-based model of the rise and fall of scientific research programs. The Journal of Economic Methodology, 18(4), 363-385.

Publications- Books

 D. Farhat (2014). Between gods and monsters: Reason, instinct and the artificial vampire. In Economics of the Undead: Zombies, Vampires, and the Dismal Science, G. Whitman & J. P. Dow (eds.), Washington DC: Rowman & Littlefield, 2nd Edition.

Publications- Chapters

Honors and Awards

Outstanding Faculty Award, College of Business and Economics, 2018.

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