Almuth D Merkel

Welcome

I am Almuth Merkel.

February 2022, I joined the School of Economics at Wenzhou-Kean University's College of Business and Public Management.

I received my PhD with a concentration in Data Management and Analytics and Economic Analysis of Conflict in International Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University, GA.

On this website I provide information about myself and my academic research.

Thank you for visiting!

Almuth

About Me

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.

Short Bio

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.

Contact

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

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Curriculum Vitae

Download my CV here

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) 2021 Data Management and Analytics and Economic Analysis of Conflict Concentration in International Conflict Management

Dissertation: The Social Market Economy as a Formula for Peace, Prosperity, and Sustainability
Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA

Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Food and Agribusiness 2017

Thesis: From Resource Abundance to Hunger and Conflict – The Case of Venezuela
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburg, Germany

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Ecotrophology 2015

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

Certificates

Graduate Certificate in Data Management and Analytics Aug 2019 - Jul 2020

Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA

Analyzing Data with Python Jun 2020

Online learning initiative of IBM

Professional Experience

Lecturer of Economics Since Feb 2022

Responsibilities: Teaching, Student Support Activities
College of Business and Public Management, Department of Economics, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou, China

Graduate Teaching Assistant Jan 2020 - May 2021

Responsibilities: Teacher of Record for Contemporary Economic Issues
Department of Economics, Finance, and Quantitative Analysis, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA

Graduate Research Assistant Jan 2018 – Dec 2019

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

Research Assistant Oct 2017 – Dec 2017

Responsibilities: Data mining, analysis, and write-up of results
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany

Research Visitor Apr 2017 – May 2017

Responsibilities: Data mining, analysis, and write-up of results
Department of Economics, Finance, and Quantitative Analysis, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA

Lab Assistant Apr 2016 – Jul 2016

Responsibilities: Tutor lab for food technology
Department of Food and Nutrition Sciences, Anhalt University of Applied Science, Bernburg, Germany

Intern for Amistad con Nicaragua Apr 2015 – Jul 2015

Responsibilities: Nutrition consultant and instructor of nutrition science
Casa de la Mujer and Centro de Salud, La Paz Centro, Nicaragua

International Student Mentor Oct 2014 – Mar 2015

Responsibilities: Assist with administrative requirements for settling in Germany
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburg, Germany

Intern for Administration of Food Service Facilities Apr 2014 – Jun 2014

Responsibilities: Quality and allergen management
Administration of Food Service Facilities, Studierendenwerk Göttingen, Germany

Research Visitor Aug 2013 – Oct 2013

Responsibilities: Research nutritional use of Ipomea Batata, Hygiene lectures in rural areas
Faculty of Chemistry, Biology and Pharmacy, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, México

Intern for Administration of Food Service Facilities Feb 2012 – Mar 2012

Responsibilities: Assist management of food production and delivery
Administration of Food Service Facilities, Studierendenwerk Göttingen, Germany

Volunteer for Day care center “Jardín Naciente” Aug 2010 – Aug 2011

Responsibilities: Assisting in early childhood education
Day care center Jardín Naciente, Fundación Cristo Vive, Santiago de Chile, Chile

Honors, Awards, and Fellowships

Outstanding Scholar Award 2021

Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA

Summer Research Fellow Jun 2020 - Jul 2020

Awarded for research service on "The Economic Burden of Labor Market Mismatch”
Education Economics Center, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA

Recognition of Contribution to the 2019 Research Symposium on Homeland Security Oct 2019

Granted for presentation of “Socioeconomic Impact Estimations - Conflict, Empty Stomachs, Empty Classrooms, Empty Wallets”
Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA

Summer Research Fellow Jun 2019 - Jul 2019

Awarded for research service on "From Conflict to Empty Stomachs, Empty Classrooms, and Empty Wallets"
Education Economics Center, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA

Recognition of Contribution to the 2018 Research Symposium on Homeland Security Oct 2018

Granted for presentation of “Impact of Economic Freedom Visualization and Simulation Tool”
Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA

Summer Research Fellow Jun 2018 - Jul 2018

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

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles

From Conflict to Empty Stomachs, Empty Classrooms, and Empty Wallets Jan 2021

M. Marktanner, A. Merkel
Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies

Conflict and aid dependency–an explorative study motivated by the case of Palestine Jul 2019

M. Marktanner, A. Merkel
Journal of Development Effectiveness, 11 (3), 253-272.

Hunger and Anger in Autocracies and Democracies Jun 2019

M. Marktanner, A. Merkel
International Journal of Development and Conflict, 9(1), 1-18.

Estimating child mortality attributable to war in Yemen Sep 2018

D. Jenkins, M. Marktanner, A. Merkel, D. Sedik
International Journal of Development Issues, 17(3), 372-383.

Book Chapter

Economic Issues in International Conflict Management Dec 2019

M. Marktanner, A. Merkel, L. Noiset
in Butcher, C. & Hallward, M.C. (Eds.). Understanding International Conflict Management, Routledge.

Ordnungspolitik und Sozialverfassung Nov 2019

M. Marktanner, A. Merkel
in Maihold, G., Sangmeister, H. & Werz, N. (Eds.). Handbuch für Wissenschaft und Studium, Nomos.

Other Published Work

Hunger and Anger in Autocracies and Democracies Oct 2018

M. Marktanner, A. Merkel
Coles College of Business Working Paper Series, Fall 2018 Special Issue, Kennesaw State University.

Conflict and Aid Dependency – An Explorative Study Motivated by the Case of Palestine Oct 2018

M. Marktanner, A. Merkel
Coles College of Business Working Paper Series, Fall 2018 Special Issue, Kennesaw State University.

Estimating Child Mortality Attributable to War in Yemen Oct 2018

D. Jenkins, M. Marktanner, A. Merkel, D. Sedik
Coles College of Business Working Paper Series, Fall 2018 Special Issue, Kennesaw State University.

Presentations

Refereed Conference Presentations

The Burden of Labor Market Mismatches in Selected Arab Countries Jan 2022

Paper
A. Merkel, M. Marktanner
42nd MEEA/ASSA Annual Meeting, Allied Social Sciences Association and Middle East Economic Association, Online, USA, 1/4/2020

The Third Revolutionary's Socioeconomic Trace in the Arab Uprising Jan 2020

Paper
A. Merkel
40th MEEA/ASSA Annual Meeting, Allied Social Sciences Association and Middle East Economic Association, San Diego, USA, 1/4/2020

Death by Revolution: Estimating the Socioeconomic Burden of the Arab Uprising Jul 2019

Paper
A. Merkel
94th MEEA/WEAI Annual Meeting, Western Economics Association International and Middle East Economic Association, San Francisco, USA, 7/1/2019

Palestine - Conflict and Aid Dependency as a Source of Income? Jan 2019

Paper
A. Merkel
39th MEEA/ASSA Annual Meeting, Allied Social Sciences Association and Middle East Economic Association, Atlanta, USA, 1/7/2019

The Burden of War on Child Mortality: The Case of Yemen Jun 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

Palestine – 100% Aid Dependent? Jun 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

Non-Refereed Conference Presentations

Socioeconomic Impact Estimations - Conflict, Empty Stomachs, Empty Classrooms, Empty Wallets Oct 2019

Poster
A. Merkel
2019 Research Symposium on Homeland Security, Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA, 10/10/2019

The Use of Interactive Socioeconomic Data Visualization for a More Informed Public Debate Oct 2018

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

Impact of Economic Freedom Visualization and Simulation Tool Oct 2018

Poster
A. Merkel
2018 Research Symposium on Homeland Security, Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA, 10/11/2018

Work in Progress

The Economic Burden of Human Capital Mismatch

Visualization and Simulation Project
Marktanner, M., & Merkel, A.

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.


Death by Revolution – Estimating the Socioeconomic Burden of the Arab Uprising

Visualization and Simulation Project
Merkel, A.

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.

Wenzhou-Kean University

International Economics
WKU ECON3400
Intermediate Microeconomics
WKU ECON3021
Intermediate Macroeconomics
WKU ECON3020
Principles of Economics II - Microeconomics
WKU ECON1021
Principles of Economics I - Macroeconomics
WKU ECON1020
Business Statistics and Applications
WKU ECON1020

Kennesaw State University

ECON1000 - Contemporary Economic Issues
KSU ECON1000

Teaching Statement

Download my Teaching Statement here

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.”

As an instructor it is my responsibility to provide students with scaffolding until they can confidently and autonomously expand their understanding of the subject-matter. For this to work properly, the foundations need to be built accordingly. I prepare my own course materials to build these foundations in tandem with students using the textbooks as a roadmap only. Often, providing students with a concept and then asking them to collect the main characteristics, to summarize in their own words, and collect those items on the board 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 descriptive statistics with data on students’ height and show size. Using this dataset to calculate mean, median, standard deviation, etc. aims at transferring theory into praxis. Additional problem sets and exercises reinforce the covered material and further solidify set foundations – and allow me to gain unexpected insights. Based on student questions and ideas I have updated and complemented exercises and developed new problems that I now use to communicate the topic more effectively. Over the past two years, I have focused on developing material for six different economics courses. My department can now rely on my extensive teaching portfolio as they schedule upcoming semesters. As we are expanding the course catalogue for economics majors on site, I am looking forward to playing an active role in creating content for our students and setting them up for success. Since joining WKU, I was able to teach the common course sequence (1020, 1021, 2150, 3020, 3021, 3400). It was truly rewarding to accompany so many of our students for two years of their journey – and walking into a classroom every new semester and seeing so many familiar faces.

Within and beyond the classroom I strive to live by the qualities I treasure. Clear expectations and ground rules through open and transparent communication before and during the semester serve as my framework for student-instructor interaction. I respect my students’ time by being punctual and approachable during class time, office hours and appointments. I attentively listen to their questions and feedback and take their concerns and struggles seriously. Being flexible within a structured semester schedule is an approach I intend to maintain to accommodate students’ needs. I wish for students to look back at their college experience one day with pride in their accomplishments. Although being a junior instructor, student feedback that I attribute to my dedication are statements such as “I am grateful for the knowledge you have given me.” Students describe me as patient, helpful, and motivational. Others share their personal successes: multiple students of mine have successfully continued their education at prestigious, top-QS ranked universities.

Today, I can bring the passion and love for my field to the classroom, amplified by interactions with students. 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.

Research Statement

Download my Research Statement here

Becoming a researcher. 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.

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 examined 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.

Student Involvement.Project-centered learning enables students to see the bigger picture behind individual courses, which is a motivating experience that complements students’ coursework. I take great pride in involving students in my research and feel strongly committed to listening to their research interests. My background in applied economics, data analysis, visualization, and information technologies will be very helpful for students to develop academic research, as well as written, visual, and verbal communication skills.

Socioeconomic development covers a broad spectrum of issues and challenges. For each socioeconomic issue and its analysis, a variety of multiple indicators and research components are worth considering. Involving students in each step along the way will provide students with cross-disciplinary and valuable research and project opportunities to build a skillset and an individually unique portfolio. I believe that student-faculty partnerships on research projects create synergies that allow students to gain hands-on research experience, generate publishable policy relevant output, and facilitate dialogue with businesses and policy makers.

Dissertation Project

The Social Market Economy as a Formula for Peace, Prosperity and Sustainability

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.

Visualization and Simulation Projects

Visualizing Theory

Training and Education