Traditional values
complement professor’s new ideas

Passion for economics inspires Jason Taylor’s teaching and research

Jason Taylor always wears a tie in his classroom because he likes to keep his students on their toes. And he likes to get them thinking.

Before each class, Taylor puts up a question for students to begin pondering before they’ve had a chance to sit down. For instance, “Why are rich nations rich and poor nations poor?” or “What’s a poor central banker to do?”

“I try to provide a very scholarly and academic environment under the assumption that students are intellectually curious,” Taylor said.

Taylor, an assistant professor of economics at Central Michigan University, is an authority on American economic history, particularly the Great Depression and New Deal, and he also has a strong interest in contemporary U.S. macroeconomic policy. He has published numerous scholarly articles on the economic policies during the Great Depression and World War II, the economics of high wages, and the government’s general response to high unemployment.

As with the tie, Taylor keeps his methods traditional and tries to foster an environment in which students are challenged and given the freedom to ask questions.

“Jason Taylor is an exceptional professor,” said Zack Macomber, a sophomore majoring in economics. “The man knows the material he teaches like the back of his hand and tries his best to convey it to a wide range of student types. He’s very personable and courteous, and he has rekindled my love for economics.”

Paul Natke, chair of the economics department, has heard nothing but praise for Taylor.

“I think he brings a sense of surprise and wonder to the classroom because he sees economic principles working everywhere, everyday. He tries to keep students engaged by applying economic principles to their lives, things such as referring to articles he reads in newspapers and magazines,” Natke said.

Taking CMU into the future

After earning his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University, Taylor moved to Athens, Georgia, to earn his doctorate in economics from the University of Georgia. He worked for five years as an assistant professor at the University of Virginia, where he experienced something rare for teachers: a standing ovation from a class of 500 students.

“It literally brought tears to my eyes. It was a moment that I’ll never forget and a feat that I strive to duplicate in my classes at CMU. If we can get students to feel as passionate about the material as we feel, great results will follow,” Taylor said.

Taylor chose CMU in part because he and his wife were anxious to return to the Midwest, but also because he was impressed by the steps CMU was taking toward being a research university.

“I wanted to get in on the ground floor and lead that change,” Taylor said.

Staying in touch with the economies

On Taylor’s list of passions, research takes a close second to teaching. Currently, he has five papers under review at various economic journals, with a few other papers in the works.

“Most of my current research deals with economic policies during the New Deal and World War II,” Taylor said. “I’m looking at Roosevelt’s experiment in creating cartels throughout the U.S. economy between 1933 and 1935. Since it is extremely rare that cartels can operate so openly – as they are illegal under the Sherman Antitrust Act – economists can gain insight about cartel behavior by studying this historical episode.”

Taylor feels that the best teachers are those who are intellectually engaged in scholarly pursuits, who always ask questions, and who, in turn, allow themselves to be challenged by their students.

“Many teachers at CMU are doing tremendous scholarly research,” Taylor said. “Because of this, CMU’s reputation will grow in the next couple of decades, and I’m excited to be a part of that.”