Tom Lehman

Biography

Dr. Tom Lehman is a professor of economics at Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Indiana, where he teaches Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Urban Economics and Policy, Public Finance, International Economics, Statistics and Research Methods, Intermediate Macroeconomics, and American Economic History.

Interests

Dr. Lehman's research interests include urban economics and local economic development, urban housing markets, urban economic growth, income inequality and technological change, and payday lending, and other short-term loan markets. Past published research includes co-authored studies on the determinants of rental prices in urban housing markets in the United States, comparing the 1990's and the early 2000's. Additionally, Dr. Lehman has conducted published studies on the habits and practices of consumers and producers in the short-term consumer finance industry, including payday lending and short-term check-cashing business models. More recently, his research has been focused on using Census data to investigate the predictors of local economic development and growth in Midwestern non-metropolitan (rural) areas. His findings on this and other research have been utilized by local economic development organizations in Indiana and the Midwest. Dr. Lehman’s article exploring the links between technological change, income inequality, and job shifting was published by the prestigious Independent Review and can be accessed here.

Degrees

• Ph.D. - Urban Economics and Public Affairs
  2004, University of Louisville
• MA - Public Policy
  1994, Ball State University
• BS - Economics
  1992, Indiana Wesleyan University