I grew up in Goettingen, where I also went to school from 1997 to 2010. In 10th grade, I participated in a school exchange with Chile and Bolivia and discovered my passion for traveling the world and living in different places.
After I graduated from highschool in 2010, I did a voluntary social year in Chile, working in a day care center. Being confronted with poverty and underdevelopment, but food insecurity in particular, I decided to dedicate my studies to this area. In the fall of 2011, I began my undergraduate studies at the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Germany, and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Ecotrophology. Throughout my studies, I completed internships in Germany, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Building on my Bachelor's, I began my graduate studies in Food and Agribusiness at Anthalt University in Fall 2015 and graduated with a Master of Science in 2017.
During a research visit at Kennesaw State University, I wrote my master's thesis on Venezuela, which has been confronted with a starving population and conflict, despite resource abundance. Through this research project I learned about the importance of the political and economic environment for peaceful and prosperous economic development.
On April 2, 2021, I successfully defended my dissertation entitled The Social Market Economy as a Formula for Peace, Prosperity, and Sustainability under the supervision of Professor Marcus Marktanner at Kennesaw State University. February 2022, I joined the faculty of Wenzhou-Kean University's College of Business and Public Management.
Almuth D. Merkel received her PhD with a Data Management and Analytics and Economic Analysis of Conflict Concentration in Intl. Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University. Her research focuses on the analysis of the causes and consequences of unequal economic development and the concept of the social market economy. Her research is applied in nature and data-driven, including economic impact studies and public policy simulations. She has a special interest in the use of information technologies to bridge the gap between academic research and informed public policy and debate.
Almuth D Merkel
College of Business and Public Management CBPM
Office B515
Wenzhou-Kean University
88 Daxue Rd
Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China 325060
Phone: +86 577 5587 0000
CBPM@wku.edu.cn
Email: amerkel@kean.edu | amerkel@wku.edu.cn
Dissertation: The Social Market Economy as a Formula for Peace, Prosperity, and Sustainability
Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA
Thesis: From Resource Abundance to Hunger and Conflict – The Case of Venezuela
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburg, Germany
Thesis: Generation-specific Characteristics of Mealtime Behavior – An empirical Study
Original: Generationsspezifische Merkmale des Mahlzeitenverhaltens – Eine empirische Untersuchung
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburg, Germany
Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA
Responsibilities: Teaching, Student Support Activities
College of Business and Public Management, Department of Economics, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou, China
Responsibilities: Teacher of Record for Contemporary Economic Issues
Department of Economics, Finance, and Quantitative Analysis, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA
Responsibilities: Data mining, analysis, and write-up of results, supervision of capstone projects
School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding and Development, Departments of Economics, Finance and Quantitative Analysis and Information Technology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA
Responsibilities: Data mining, analysis, and write-up of results
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
Responsibilities: Data mining, analysis, and write-up of results
Department of Economics, Finance, and Quantitative Analysis, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA
Responsibilities: Tutor lab for food technology
Department of Food and Nutrition Sciences, Anhalt University of Applied Science, Bernburg, Germany
Responsibilities: Nutrition consultant and instructor of nutrition science
Casa de la Mujer and Centro de Salud, La Paz Centro, Nicaragua
Responsibilities: Assist with administrative requirements for settling in Germany
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburg, Germany
Responsibilities: Quality and allergen management
Administration of Food Service Facilities, Studierendenwerk Göttingen, Germany
Responsibilities: Research nutritional use of Ipomea Batata, Hygiene lectures in rural areas
Faculty of Chemistry, Biology and Pharmacy, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, México
Responsibilities: Assist management of food production and delivery
Administration of Food Service Facilities, Studierendenwerk Göttingen, Germany
Responsibilities: Assisting in early childhood education
Day care center Jardín Naciente, Fundación Cristo Vive, Santiago de Chile, Chile
Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA
Awarded for research service on "The Economic Burden of Labor Market Mismatch”
Education Economics Center, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA
Granted for presentation of “Socioeconomic Impact Estimations - Conflict, Empty Stomachs, Empty Classrooms, Empty Wallets”
Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA
Awarded for research service on "From Conflict to Empty Stomachs, Empty Classrooms, and Empty Wallets"
Education Economics Center, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA
Granted for presentation of “Impact of Economic Freedom Visualization and Simulation Tool”
Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA
Awarded for research service on developing an “Impact of Economic Freedom Visualization and Simulation Tool”
Bagwell Center for the Study of Markets and Economic Opportunity, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA
M. Marktanner, A. Merkel
Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies
M. Marktanner, A. Merkel
Journal of Development Effectiveness, 11 (3), 253-272.
M. Marktanner, A. Merkel
International Journal of Development and Conflict, 9(1), 1-18.
D. Jenkins, M. Marktanner, A. Merkel, D. Sedik
International Journal of Development Issues, 17(3), 372-383.
M. Marktanner, A. Merkel, L. Noiset
in Butcher, C. & Hallward, M.C. (Eds.). Understanding International Conflict Management, Routledge.
M. Marktanner, A. Merkel
in Maihold, G., Sangmeister, H. & Werz, N. (Eds.). Handbuch für Wissenschaft und Studium, Nomos.
M. Marktanner, A. Merkel
Coles College of Business Working Paper Series, Fall 2018 Special Issue, Kennesaw State University.
M. Marktanner, A. Merkel
Coles College of Business Working Paper Series, Fall 2018 Special Issue, Kennesaw State University.
D. Jenkins, M. Marktanner, A. Merkel, D. Sedik
Coles College of Business Working Paper Series, Fall 2018 Special Issue, Kennesaw State University.
Paper
A. Merkel, M. Marktanner
42nd MEEA/ASSA Annual Meeting, Allied Social Sciences Association and Middle East Economic Association, Online, USA, 1/4/2020
Paper
A. Merkel
40th MEEA/ASSA Annual Meeting, Allied Social Sciences Association and Middle East Economic Association, San Diego, USA, 1/4/2020
Paper
A. Merkel
94th MEEA/WEAI Annual Meeting, Western Economics Association International and Middle East Economic Association, San Francisco, USA, 7/1/2019
Paper
A. Merkel
39th MEEA/ASSA Annual Meeting, Allied Social Sciences Association and Middle East Economic Association, Atlanta, USA, 1/7/2019
Paper
A. Merkel, M. Marktanner
93rd MEEA/WEAI Annual Meeting, Western Economics Association International and Middle East Economic Association, Vancouver, Canada, 6/30/2018
Paper
A. Merkel, M. Marktanner
93rd MEEA/WEAI Annual Meeting, Western Economics Association International and Middle East Economic Association, Vancouver, Canada, 6/30/2018
Poster
A. Merkel
2019 Research Symposium on Homeland Security, Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA, 10/10/2019
Lecture
A. Merkel, M. Marktanner
6th Edition of the International Conference in Software Engineering Research and Innovation CONISOFT, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, 10/25/2018
Poster
A. Merkel
2018 Research Symposium on Homeland Security, Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA, 10/11/2018
We develop a human capital mismatch index for a sample of 107 countries and provide empirical evidence for an inverse relationship between human capital mismatch and total factor productivity. We then use our empirical estimates to develop an interactive web-based application that allows for the illustration and visualization of a country’s human capital mismatch profile and simulation of the economic impact associated with changes in the country’s human capital mismatch performance.
Since the beginning of the Arab Uprising in 2010, most Arab states have witnessed a slowdown of economic growth or, even worse as in the case of the conflict countries, a decline in real income per capita. The objective of this study is to take stock of the socioeconomic burden of the Arab uprising beyond the count of people directly killed in protests or wars. For this purpose, I first calculate the difference between the forecasted counterfactual incomes per capita had the Arab-uprising not taken place and the actual incomes after the structural break imposed by the revolutionary wave. In a second step, I then estimate for all Arab countries the forgone socioeconomic development dividend, focusing especially on child mortality, food insecurity, and forgone educational attainments.
I am a teacher in training, and I will always be. Learning is an iterative process, for my understanding captured best by the idiom “lifelong learning.” Transitioning from being a student to being a teacher does not change but amplifies this perspective.
Being an instructor. Being an instructor means to provide students with training wheels until they can autonomously continue their way. For this to work properly, the road needs to be paved accordingly. I understand each textbook as a roadmap, building upon which I prepare my own course materials to guide students through the subject at hand. Often, different wording or dissecting the ‘studied object’ from another angle brings about understanding and comprehension. In my lecture notes, I emphasize the topic’s main themes and connect them to real-life examples. For example, I approach welfare analysis with an easy step-by-step numerical example. Using this example to conduct welfare analyses for a free-market and existing market intervention mechanisms, such as minimum wages or maximum rents, aim at transferring theory into praxis. To further solidify these foundations, I provide problem sets and exercises to reinforce covered material. Working with students through exercises I often gain unexpected insights. After further encouraging students to modify existing exercises, I have received wonderful examples I now use to communicate the topic more effectively. This way, I attempt to ensure solid educational foundations that finally allow students to autonomously move forward.
Beyond the classroom. With my actions within and beyond the classroom, I strive to live by the qualities I treasure. I reliably set and adhere to clear expectations and ground rules. I value students’ time by being punctual and maintaining attentive and polite interaction. Offering walk-in office hours and individual appointments, I remain approachable and accessible to students and take their concerns and struggles serious. Being confronted with a global pandemic and changing teaching modalities, I adjusted using a variety of communication mediums. For example, to accommodate each of my students I recorded voice-over power points for my lectures accessible outside the regular class time, set up a virtual classroom for Q&A during class time, switched to virtual “walk-in” office hours, posted announcements on the course website accordingly, and remained readily available for individual written and virtual exchange and interaction. Having also had the opportunity to teach asynchronous online, I followed the same approach, yet following a weekly schedule instead of specific hours. Being flexible within a structured semester schedule is an approach I intend to maintain to accommodate students’ needs.
Student experiences. Ultimately, I wish for students to look back at their college experience one day with pride in and thankfulness for their accomplishments. While being true to myself and my principles, I am willing to do everything in my power to support and further student’s academic success and individual accomplishments. Although being a junior instructor, student feedback that I attribute to my dedication are statements such as “I never liked economics, but you make it fun” and, referring to the economic concept of opportunity cost, “I already find myself applying the concepts from class to my every-day life.” Students have also described me as caring, always happy to explain and attested clear grading criteria and good feedback.
Today, I can bring the passion and love for my field, induced by conscientious, inspiring, and accommodating individuals and teachers, to the classroom myself. Delivering education to the best of my abilities, is an offer to students that comes from the heart. Albeit I respect my students’ freedom to choose the extent to which they accept this offer and heed voiced discontent. Consequently, student feedback is always the fertilizer to my professional and personal growth.
Becoming a researcher. Having had the opportunity to live in different countries and gain experience in the field, the socioeconomic grievances among the local population left a lasting impact on me. After graduating high school, I worked and lived in one of the poor outskirts of Santiago de Chile for one year. There, I witnessed students voicing discontent about disparate opportunities on the streets and families struggling to live a healthy and dignified life with very limited financial means. As a result, I decided to study Ecotrophology, which addresses both domestic economics and nutrition science, including food processing and diet planning.
Through the study of ecotrophology, I developed a strong interest in food security. I seized opportunities to intern in Mexico and Nicaragua, where I observed that inefficient agricultural production contributes to food insecurity. I thus completed a master’s in food and agribusiness to better understand food availability and stability. Soon, I developed a strong interest in understanding the causes and consequences of food insecurity. In my master’s thesis, I focused on Venezuela, which has been confronted with a starving population and conflict, despite resource abundance. Through this research project I learned about the importance of the political and economic environment for peaceful and prosperous economic development. In my dissertation, I examine this relationship in more detail.
Research Interest. My research focuses on the analysis of the causes and consequences of unequal economic development. I am particularly interested in the concept of the social market economy as a formula for peace, prosperity, and sustainability. My research is applied in nature and data-driven, including economic impact studies and public policy simulations. It is aimed at supporting evidence-based policy and decision-making.
Yet, academic research results are traditionally published as journal articles. Access to those articles, however, is often limited to academia. In response to this limitation, I have developed a special interest in the use of information technologies to bridge the gap between academic research and informed public policy and debate.
Research Strategy. I believe that the traditional presentation format of research results undermines its purpose of contributing to a more informed public debate and discourages reader interaction with valuable information. Such insights, however, are relevant and useful far beyond academia. I have thus adopted a two-fold research strategy. Firstly, embedded in the scientific method, I conduct applied and data driven analyses of socio-economically relevant topics. Secondly, I take advantage of information technologies to communicate research results in a comprehensible way.
Specifically, in my dissertation I explore opportunities to translate the insights from my empirical analysis into an accessible format and develop an interactive data visualization and simulation framework. I then code an interactive web application accordingly so that a user may simulate social market conform policy changes and their impact on peace, prosperity, and sustainability.
I believe that the academic community has a responsibility to support evidence-based policy and decision-making and to contribute to a more informed public debate. By combining the scientific method (to gain insights) with information technologies (to share insights), I direct my research efforts towards the public domain. With that, I hope to build a solid foundation for potential future collaborations within and beyond academia.
In most European countries, it is compulsory to learn at least one foreign language. In my home country Germany, this language is typically English. As I entered seventh grade at the Gymnasium (secondary school), I had to select a second foreign language. I chose a school that also offered Spanish, in addition to French and Latin. I enjoyed learning English and Spanish, and fortunately had the opportunity to take French in ninth grade as well.
During a week-long class trip to Great Britain, we were accommodated with host families. Albeit I did not speak English very well at the time, it was a very enriching experience to communicate in a language other than my native language. As a result, I seized the opportunity to participate in a school exchange program and went for three months to school in Chile and for another month in Bolivia. Upon my return home, I again had to choose from a catalogue of electives for eleventh grade and decided to take Italian.
The ability to speak the local language amplified the enriching experiences I made abroad. Similarly, the good English training I received in school allowed me to pursue a degree in the United States. Today, I am fluent in German, English, and Spanish, and possess elementary communication skills in French and Italian.
Learning a language is an investment with incredible returns. It opens doors that would remain shut otherwise. In the future, I hope to add more languages to my repertoire. I perceive myself as a global citizen, have felt at home in many places already, and I am more than happy and eager to learn the language of the country that my career invites me to.
The social market economy was developed in Germany during the interwar period amidst political and economic turmoil. With clear demarcation lines differentiating it from socialism and laissez-faire capitalism, the social market economy became a formula for peace and prosperity for post WWII Germany. Since then, the success of the social market economy has inspired many other countries to adopt its principles. Drawing on evidence from economic history and the history of economic thought, this thesis first reviews the evolution of the fundamental principles that form the foundation of social-market economic thought. Blending the micro-economic utility maximization framework with traditional growth theory, I provide theoretical support that aggregate social welfare is maximized in a stylized social market economy. Despite the presence of extensive qualitative research, no attempts have yet been made to measure social market economic performance empirically or to quantify the effects of social market economic principles on peace and prosperity. Thus, I explore potential indicators to develop a social market economic performance index. I provide empirical evidence that supports the notion that the application of social market economic principles carries a social peace dividend, creates more equal opportunity, promotes ecological sustainability, and generates higher per capita incomes. I use the empirical results to build an interactive web application that allows for the simulation, assessment, and visualization of the economic-performance effects of applying social market economic principles to the economies of 165 countries. Lastly, the interactive web application also allows for modification of the social market economic principles and reports the estimated impact on peace and prosperity in these countries.