Dr. James Griffin, holder of the Bob Bullock Chair in Public Policy and Finance, has been a professor of economics and public policy in the Bush School of Government and Public Service since 2001. Dr. Griffin, or Dr. G as he is known by his students, is a native Texan and part-time rancher. He holds a BA in mathematics and economics from Southern Methodist University and a PhD in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. More of his background information can be found here: https://bush.tamu.edu/faculty/jgriffin.
Dr. G is known among Bush School students as a lively but demanding professor, intent on teaching students the economic way of thinking. He likes to use some of his colorful experiences in the private sector and federal government as classroom examples, including his trips to Montana to buy prized Angus bulls, stories of which are familiar to any of his students. Dr. G’s teaching specialty is energy economics and policy, relying on his broad experience in the oil industry and his extensive travel in the Middle East. Students are challenged to consider policy alternatives and are encouraged to think critically of social, political, and economic consequences of different alternatives. This is a highly engaging course, demanding considerable student participation.
Dr. Griffin has received numerous professional awards including a listing in Who’s Who in Economics and a Humboldt Fellowship. In addition, he serves on the editorial boards of three journals specializing in energy economics. As a director at the LECG Corporation, Dr. Griffin is also frequently called upon to testify regarding anti-trust and regulatory issues.
His research has resulted in six books and over 50 refereed journal articles. His research interests span a variety of public policy areas ranging from energy policy to the effects of technological change on various industries. He has maintained a long-standing interest in energy policy, having co-authored the leading textbook in the field. In 2009, he made the case for a carbon tax in A Smart Energy Policy: An Economist’s Rx for Balancing Cheap, Clean, and Secure Energy published by Yale University Press. His current research interests are U.S. ethanol policy and the use of fresh groundwater for fracking.
