Alan G. Isaac

date:

April 2025

contact:

aisaac@american.edu

address:

Department of Economics, American University, Washington, D.C. 20016

orcid:

ORCID 0000-0003-1344-587X


EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Economics, University of California, Davis, June 1986

EMPLOYMENT

Tenured Professor, May 2018–present.

Economics Department, American University, Washington, DC 20016

Tenured Associate Professor, September 1991–May 2018.

Economics Department, American University, Washington, DC 20016

Assistant Professor, September 1987–August 1991.

Economics Department, American University, Washington, DC 20016

RESEARCH

My research focuses on computational models of heterogeneous agents, with applications to macroeconomics, finance, and public policy.

Refereed Journal Articles

“Documenting and Exchanging Simulation Specifications: A Language-Agnostic Approach,” Social Science Computer Review 43(1), February 2025, 148–165. DOI: 10.1177/08944393241246280

“Rule-Based Trading on an Order-Driven Exchange: A Reassessment,” with Vasudeva Ramaswamy. Quantitative Finance 23(12), December 2023, 1871–1886. DOI: 10.1080/14697688.2023.2270711

“Direct and Indirect Transmission of Avian Influenza: Results from a Calibrated Agent-Based Model,” with Amanda Beaudoin. Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination 18, January 2023, 191–212. DOI: 10.1007/s11403-022-00353-w

“Wealth Inequality and the Financial Accumulation Process,” Eastern Economic Journal 47(3), June 2021, 430–448. DOI: 10.1057/s41302-021-00191-x

“Exploring the Social-Architecture Model,” Eastern Economic Journal 45(4), October 2019, 565–589. DOI: 10.1057/s41302-018-0114-9

“Partnership Duration and Concurrent Partnering: Implications for Models of HIV Prevalence,” with Larry Sawers, Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination 14(2), June 2019, 293–315. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11403-018-00234-1

“Partnership Duration, Concurrency, and HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa,” with Larry Sawers, African Journal of AIDS Research 16(2), July 2017, 155–164. http://dx.doi.org/10.2989/16085906.2017.1336105

“Modern Value Chains and the Organization of Agrarian Production,” with Heath Henderson, American Journal of Agricultural Economics 99(2), March 2017, 379–400. DOI: 10.1093/ajae/aaw092

“Comment on ‘Homo Socialis: An Analytical Core for Sociological Theory’,” Review of Behavioral Economics 2(1–2), 2015, 113–121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/105.00000022

“The Intergenerational Propagation of Wealth Inequality,” Metroeconomica 65(4), November 2014, pp. 571–584. DOI: 10.1111/meca.12057

“Consumer and Corporate Debt: A Neo-Kaleckian Synthesis,” with Yun Kim, Metroeconomica 64(2), May 2013, pp. 244–271. DOI: 10.1111/meca.12005

“HIV and Concurrent Sexual Partnerships: Modelling the Role of Coital Dilution,” with Larry Sawers and Eileen Stillwaggon, Journal of the International AIDS Society 14(1), Article 44, September, 2011. DOI: 10.1186/1758-2652-14-44

“The ABM Template Models: A Reformulation with Reference Implementations,” Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation 14(2), Article 5, 2011. http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/14/2/5.html

“Monetary and Fiscal Interactions: Short-Run and Long-Run Implications,” Metroeconomica 60(1), February 2009, pp. 197–223. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-999x.2008.00342.x

“Simulating Evolutionary Games: A Python-Based Introduction,” Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation 11(3) Forum, 2008. URL: http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/11/3/8.html

“Inheriting Inequality: Institutional Influences on the Distribution of Wealth,” Journal of Post Keynesian Economics 30(2), Winter 2007–2008, pp. 187–204. DOI: 10.2753/pke0160-3477300203

“PostScript Drawing: An Economist’s Guide” Social Science Computer Review 22(4), Winter 2004, pp. 512–530.

“The Behavioral Life-Cycle Theory of Consumer Behavior: Survey Evidence,” with Fred Graham, Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization 48(4), August 2002, pp.391–401. DOI: 10.1016/s0167-2681(01)00242-6

“The Real-Interest-Differential Model after Twenty Years,” with Suresh de Mel, Journal of International Money and Finance 20(4), August 2001, 473–495. DOI: 10.1016/s0261-5606(01)00005-5

“Risk Premia and Overshooting,” Economics Letters 61(3), December 1998, 359–364. DOI: 10.1016/s0165-1765(98)00191-8

“Monetary Shocks and Relative Farm Prices: A Re-Examination,” with David Rapach, American Journal of Agricultural Economics 79(4), November 1997, 1332–1339. DOI: 10.2307/1244289

“Morality, Maximization, and Economic Behavior,” Southern Economic Journal 63(3), January 1997, 559–570. DOI: 10.2307/1061094

“Monotonic Saddle-Path Dynamics,” Economics Letters 53(3), December 1996, 235–238. DOI: 10.1016/s0165-1765(96)00925-1

“Firm Heterogeneity and Worker Turnover,” with Julia I. Lane and David Stevens, Review of Industrial Organization 11(3), June 1996, 275–291.

“Monetary Policy, Elasticity Dynamics, and Real Exchange Rate Reversal,” Journal of Money, Credit, and Banking 27(2), May 1995, 335–349.

“Is There a Natural Rate?” Journal of Post Keynesian Economics 15(4), Summer 1993, 453–470.

“Economic Stabilization and Money Supply Endogeneity in a Conflicting Claims Model,” Journal of Post Keynesian Economics 14(1), Fall 1991, 93–110. DOI: 10.1080/01603477.1991.11489881

“Monetary Accommodation of Income Claims: A Comment,” Weltwirtshäftliches Archiv 126(1), March 1990, 173–177.

“Wealth Effects and the Current Account with Endogenous Terms of Trade,” Journal of Macroeconomics 11(4), Fall 1989, 609–612. DOI: 10.1016/0164-0704(89)90010-4

“Exchange Rate Volatility and Currency Substitution,” Journal of International Money and Finance 8(2), June 1989, 277–284.

“Reversing the Phillips Curve: A Microfoundation,” Journal of Macroeconomics 8(2), Spring 1986, 221–226. DOI: 10.1016/0164-0704(86)90007-8

“Bursting Bubbles: Further Results,” Journal of Monetary Economics 17(3), May 1986, 425–431. DOI: 10.1016/0304-3932(86)90066-8

“Currency Substitution: Intuition and Implications,” Atlantic Economic Journal 13(4), December 1985, 87–88.

Refereed Book Chapters

“Open Development: Is the 'Open Source' Analogy Relevant to Biotechnology?” with Walter G. Park. In David Castle (ed), The Role of Intellectual Property Rights in Biotechnology Innovation, Edward Elgar Press, 2009, ch. 10, pp. 225-251.

“Varieties of Fiscal Stimulus,” chapter 12 (pp.237-252) in Per Berglund and Matias Vernengo (eds) The Means to Prosperity: Fiscal Policy Reconsidered (Routledge: 2006) ISBN: 0415701562

“On Intellectual Property Rights: Patents vs. Free and Open Development,” with Walter G. Park, chapter 18 of The Elgar Companion to the Economics of Property Rights, 2004, pp. 383-413 (editor: Enrico Colombatto).

“Inflation: Conflicting Claims Approach,” in Phillip Anthony O'Hara (ed.), Encyclopedia of Political Economy, Routledge, 1999, pp. 508-510.

“Fiscal Policy and the Natural Rate,” in A. Dutt (ed.), New Directions in Analytical Political Economy (London: Edward Elgar, 1994), pp. 33-48.

“Hysteresis,” in Philip Arestis and Malcolm Sawyer (eds.), The Elgar Companion to Radical Political Economy (London: Edward Elgar, 1994).

Other Publications

“Review: Selected Essays by Frank H. Knight: Volumes 1 and 2,” Review of Political Economy 14(2), April 2002, pp.269--275.

“Review of: Exchange Rate Parity for Trade and Development: Theory, Tests, and Case Studies,” Review of Radical Political Economics (32)3, 2000, pp. 523-527 (A review of a 1996 book by Pan A. Yotopoulos.)

“Review of: Evolution, Order, and Complexity,” Review of Political Economy 10(4), 1998. (Reviews a book edited by Elias L. Khalil and Kenneth E. Boulding, published by Routledge in 1996.)

“Review of: Beyond Microfoundations: Post Walrasian Macroeconomics,” Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization 40(1), September 1999. (Reviews a book edited by David Colander, published by Cambridge University Press in 1996.)

“Commentary on ‘Towards Monetary Union in the European Community: Why and How?’,” in: European Monetary Integration: From German Dominance to an EC Central Bank? (New York: Springer-Verlag, 1991).

Current Research

“Wealth Accumulation in a Growth Model”

“UBI or UMW? A Macroeconomic Perspective” (working paper available by request).

“Firms’ Retention Behavior, Debt, and Macroeconomic Dynamics” (with Yun Kim; working paper available by request).

“Corporate Lending and Interbank Linkages: Joint Determinants of Financial Fragility” (with Donping Xie; preliminary draft available upon request).

“Gender Asymmetry and HIV Transmission”

Presentations

“Beyond the Minimum Wage: A Macroeconomic Perspective,” Eastern Economic Association 51st Annual Conference (New York, February 2025).

“Minimum Wage vs UBI: A Macroeconomic Analysis,” Eastern Economic Association 50th Annual Conference (Boston, March 2024).

“Macroeconomic Consequences of Wage Policy,” Western Economic Association International 98th Annual Conference (San Diego, July 2023).

“Wealth Accumulation in a Growth Model,” Eastern Economic Association 49th Annual Conference (New York, Feb 2023).

“Shading Behaviors and Volatility Clustering” (coauthored with Vasudeva Ramaswamy, American University), Eastern Economic Association 48th Annual Conference (presened online during pandemic, February 2021).

“Volatility Clustering with Price and Quantity Shading” (coauthored with Vasudeva Ramaswamy, American University), Eastern Economic Association 47th Annual Conference (New York), February 2020.

“Multimarket Competition and Profitability” (coauthored with James Boohaker, Census Bureau), Eastern Economic Association 46th Annual Conference (New York, Feb 2020).

“Consequences of Macro Policy,” Eastern Economic Association 45th Annual Conference (New York, March 2019).

“Monetary and Fiscal Policy in an Agent-Based Macromodel,” 85th International Atlantic Economic Conference (London, March 2018).

“Macroeconomic Policy and the Emergent Distribution of Labor,” Southern Economic Association 88th Annual Conference (Washington DC, Nov 2018).

“Effective Fiscal Policy in the Social-Architecture Model,” Eastern Economic Association 44th Annual Conference '(Boston, March 2018).

“Macroeconomic Consequences of Wage Policy: Results from the Social Architecture Model,” Eastern Economic Association 43rd Annual Conference (New York, February 2017).

“Econophysics vs Macroeconomics? Exploring The Role of Money,” International Congress on Agent Computing, George Mason University (FairFax VA, 30 Nov 2016).

“Macroeconomic Consequences of the Minimum Wage: Results from the Social Architecture Model,” 82nd International Atlantic Economic Conference (Washington DC, Oct 2016).

“Econophysics or Macroeconomics?” Eastern Economic Association 42nd Annual Conference (Washington DC, 26 Feb 2016).

“Corporate Lending and Interbank Linkages: Joint Determinants of Financial Fragility” (coauthored with Dongping Xie), Eastern Economic Association 41st Annual Conference (New York, 28 February 2015).

“Corporate Lending and Interbank Linkages” (invited presentation), James Madison University, 19 November 2014.

“Real Sector Shocks and Banking Sector Contagion” (coauthored with Dongping Xie), Eastern Economic Association 40th Annual Conference (Boston, 8 March 2014).

“Real Shocks and Financial Contagion” (coauthored with Dongping Xie), 77th International Atlantic Economic Conference (Madrid, 4 April 2014).

“Modern Value Chains and the Organization of Agrarian Production” (coauthored with Heath Henderson), Eastern Economic Association 39th Annual Conference (New York, 10 May 2013).

“Local Transmission of Avian Influenza: An Agent-Based Model” (coauthored with Amanda Beaudoin), Western Economic Association International, 87th Annual Conference, (San Francisco, 2 July 2012).

“Cofactors and the Spread of HIV: An Agent-Based Model,” (coauthored with Larry Sawers and Eileen Stillwaggon), Western Economic Association International 87th Annual Conference (San Francisco, 30 June 2012).

“Concurrency and the Spread of HIV: The Role of Gender Asymmetry,” Eastern Economic Association 38th Annual Conference, Boston, MA. 10 March 2012. (Presented work coauthored with Larry Sawers and Eileen Stillwaggon.)

“HIV Epidemics: Insights from an Agent-Based Model,” Southern Economic Association 81st Annual Conference, Washington, DC. 20 November 2011. (Presented work coauthored with Larry Sawers and Eileen Stillwaggon.)

“HIV and Concurrency: The Role of Coital Dilution,” Eastern Economic Association 37th Annual Conference, New York, NY. 25 February 2011. (Presented work coauthored with Larry Sawers and Eileen Stillwaggon.)

“Stochastic Preferences, Market Power, and the Distribution of Wealth,” Eastern Economic Association 36th Annual Conference, (Philadelphia, 27 Feb 2010).

“Family Matters: Demographic Assumptions and the Intergenerational Transmission of Wealth Inequality,” Eastern Economic Association 35th Annual Conference, (New York, 27 Feb 2009).

“Family Planning and Inheritance: Demographic Assumptions and the Distribution of Wealth,” 37th Annual Meeting of the Illinois Economic Association, (University of Illinois at Chicago, October 19-20, 2007).

“Family Matters: A Re-Examination of the IC Model of Wealth Inequality,” 63rd International Atlantic Economic Conference (Madrid, 18 March 2007).

“Social Consequences of Commitment,” the Eastern Economic Association annual conference, (New York, 24 February 2007).

“Open Development: Is the 'Open Source' Analogy Relevant to Biotechnology?” (coauthor: Walter Park), Southern Economic Association 75th Annual Conference (Washington DC, 19 November 2005).

Session Chair: Free and Open Source Software: Production Incentives and the Role of IP Regimes, Southern Economic Association 75th Annual Conference (Washington DC, 19 November 2005).

"Monetary and Fiscal Interactions: Growth Implications in a Keynesian Economy," presented at the Eastern Economic Association meetings (New York, 4 March 2005).

"Varieties of Fiscal Stimulus," Eastern Economic Association meetings (Washington DC, 20 February 2004).

"Portfolio-Balance Effects and the Swiss Exchange Rate," Western Economic Association International 76th Annual Conference (San Francisco, July 2001).

"The Real-Interest-Differential Model after Twenty Years," (with Suresh de Mel), SEA 70th Annual Conference (11 Nov 2000).

"The Structure of Neoclassical Consumer Theory," James Madison University, 25 September 1998, invited presentation.

"Portfolio-Balance Effects and the Swiss Exchange Rate: New Evidence," (coauthor: Rajashree Paralkar), Western Economic Association International 72nd Annual Conference (Seattle, July 1997).

"Endogenous Money in a Growing Economy," Western Economic Association International 71st Annual Conference (San Francisco, 29 June 1996).

"Morality, Maximization, and Economic Behavior," invited presentation, (James Madison University, October 1995).

"Morality, Maximization, and Economic Behavior," Southern Economic Association meetings (Orlando, 21 Nov 1994).

"Growth, Monetary Policy and the Distribution of Income," Western Economic Association International 68th Annual Conference (South Lake Tahoe, 24 June 1993).

"Monetary Policy and the Natural Rate," Western Association International 67th Annual Conference (San Francisco, 13 July 1992).

"Is Money Neutral? Conventional and Post Keynesian Views," invited presentation at Washington and Lee University, 7 May 1992.

"Fiscal Policy and the Natural Rate of Unemployment," Southwestern Social Science Association (Austin, 19 March 1992).

"Real Exchange Rate Reversal," Western Economic Association International 66th Annual Conference (Seattle, 3 July 1991).

"Rational Expectations," presented to the National Economists Club (Washington DC, 23 April 1991).

"Is There a Natural Rate?" presented at the Notre Dame University conference on New Directions in Analytical Political Economy (8 March 1991).

"Economic Stabilization and Money Supply Endogeneity," Western Economic Association International 65th Annual Conference (2 July 1990).

"Agricultural Marketing Boards and Black Market Exchange Rates: The Case of Uganda," International Atlantic Economic Conference (5 October 1989).

"Validation Rules in the Income Claims Model," Western Economic Association International 64th Annual Conference (20 June 1989).

"Currency Substitution and Exchange Rate Volatility," Western Economic Association International 63rd Annual Conference (1 July 1988).

"Currency Substitution and Stability," Western Economic Association International 61st Annual Conference (4 July 1986).

SELECTED SERVICE

Recent University Committees:

Faculty Senate Committee on Information Services

Member, June 2023-June 2024.

Faculty Senate Committee on Information Services

Chair, June 2022-June 2023.

Faculty Senate Committee on Information Services

Vice Chair, June 2021 to June 2022.

Faculty Senate Committee on Information Services

Member, June 2019 to June 2021.

Recent Department Committees:

Budget Advisory Committee

Member, AY2021-AY2023

Recent Graduate Supervision:

Christian Fignole

Member of Dissertation Committee since June 2022; in progress.

Vasudeva Ramaswamy

Chair of Dissertation Committee; completed July 2023.

Zehra Aftab

Fourth Reader of Dissertation Committee; completed January 2020.

James Boohaker

Second Reader of Dissertation Committee; completed August 2019.

Sydney Gourlay

Third Reader of Dissertation Committee; completed August 2019.

Dongping Xie

Chair of Dissertation Committee; completed in 2018.

Justin Grana

Chair of Dissertation Committee; completed in 2016.