School of Economics

The Decade in Review

Pat McCarthy came to Georgia Tech as Chair of the College's School of Economics in 2000. “If I look at the School today in comparison with my arrival, I see a number of significant differences,” said McCarthy. “The vast majority of these are the work of others with my major role being facilitator and creating an environment, I would like to think, that enabled my colleagues to be as productive and engaging as possible in their research, teaching, and service activities.”

Under McCarthy’s leadership, the School of Economics has increased its undergraduate majors; added two joint degree programs to complement the Economics major (GEML, EIA); significantly improved the academic advising experience for students; created a sustainable Professional MS Program whose students go on to PhD work at high quality institutions or industry positions; established a rigorous, niche PhD degree program that is unique in its overall focus on innovation and is attracting high quality students; established a faculty that are both innovative and effective in the classroom and a majority consistently receive average teaching effectiveness ratings over 4.0.

The School strengthened its research niches in industrial organization, international economics, and environmental economics with McCarthy building a critical mass of faculty in each area.  In addition, the faculty has become more research oriented with increased average number and quality of publications and increased activities in sponsored research activities. McCarthy notes that today’s faculty is more interdisciplinary and outward looking in its teaching and research activities; more diverse, “which brings intellectual diversity to the School’s teaching and research missions”; and has more senior members who can offer leadership and guidance to the School and in the mentoring of junior faculty.

McCarthy established the Center for Paper Business and Industry Studies (CPBIS) at Georgia Tech, one of twenty-five industry centers funded by the Sloan Foundation. He is proud of relationships with The Board of Advisors for the School of Economics (‘BASE’) who have provided time and resources for the School, helping to increase alumni connectivity and to facilitate networking opportunities for students. Board resources have also supported undergraduate students, the Omicron Delta Epsilon honor society in Economics, numerous PhD students, and general support for the faculty and staff."

McCarthy will transition to full-time faculty, teaching courses in transportation economics, research methods, and discrete choice econometrics.  His research areas include transportation economics, regulation, industry studies, and applied econometrics.