Faglige interesser/Research interests
International Economics
International Migration
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
Eastward Expansion of the European Union
(Geographic focus: Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS)
Macroeconomics
Structural Change
Macroeconomic Development in Transition Economies
Undervisning/Teaching
International Economics
International Finance
European Economic Integration
Bakgrunn/Background
Academic Degree
PhD Economics 1998, University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, USA)
Dissertation Advisor: Prof. Leonid Hurwicz
Professional Academic Experience
Professor of International Economics; Østfold University College (since July 2017)
Associate Professor, Economics, Østfold University College (July 2006 - July 2017)
Assistant Professor, Economics, EuroFaculty (hosted by the University of Latvia), Riga, Latvia (1998-2006)
Priser/Awards
Award by the Rector of the University of Latvia for “Selfless and Creative Work in Higher Education, Raising of Scientific Standards, and Contribution to International Cooperation”(translated from Latvian) March 21, 2003.
Verv/Other Professional Contributions
Research Leadership and Research Fellowships
Research Leader, Faculty of Economics, Languages and Social Sciences, Østfold University College; (January 1, 2017- August 15, 2017).
Leader of Research Group ‘Forskergruppe i Anvendt Samfunnsøkonomi’ (‘Applied Economics’) at Østfold Unversity College, since January 2015.
Chair of the Research and Development Committee (FoU utvalg), Faculty of Economics, Languages and Social Sciences, Østfold University College, Halden, Norway; (January 1 - August 15, 2017).
Research Fellow, Centre for European and Transition Studies, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia, since April 5, 2005.
Visiting researcher at the Leverhulme Centre for Research on Globalization and Economic Policy, University of Nottingham (July 2008 and November 2007)
Other Leadership Positions
Head of the International Business Program, Faculty of Economics, Languages and Social Sciences, Østfold University College: (August 2016 - August 2017)
Chair of State Examination Committee, Mathematical Economics Department, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia, May 2001 to June 2005.
Chair of Bachelor Thesis Defence Committee, Mathematical Economics Department, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia, May 2001 to June 2005.
Academic Appointments, Scientific Committees and Initiatives
Member of the Central Research and Development Committee (FoU utvalg), Østfold University College, Halden, Norway, January 1, 2017 - August 15, 2017)
Member of the Teaching and Learning Quality Committee, Faculty of Economics, Languages and Social Sciences, Østfold University College, Halden, Norway; since August 2016.
Member of the Faculty Board of Directors, Faculty of Economics, Languages and Social Sciences, Østfold University College, Halden, Norway, June 2008 – December 2012.
Member of the Board of Directors of the Latvian-Norwegian Doctoral Program (Economics) “Latvijas Doktorati Norvegija”, Høgskolen i Agder/University of Oslo/University of Latvia, 2003 – 2005.
Founding Member of the European Roundtable – an academic forum for discussion of issues of importance for Europe and an expanding European Union. Centre for European and Transition Studies, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia. December 2004 – May 2006.
Member of International Evaluation Commissions for the Latvian Higher Education Quality Assurance Centre, September 2001 to December 2005.
Member of the Scholarship Selection Committee of Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) (German Academic Exchange Service), German Embassy, Riga, Latvia, 2000-2005.