Alan Gin

Associate Professor of Economics

Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara, Economics
M.A. University of California, Santa Barbara, Economics
B.S. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Economics

www.sandiego.edu/~agin

Alan Gin is associate professor of Economics at the University of San Diego. His work experience includes stints with the Community Development Department of the County of Fresno and the Public Works Department of the City of Oxnard. Professor Gin came to the University of San Diego in 1988, after having previous taught at Loyola Marymount University and the University of California at Santa Barbara. He has taught undergraduate courses in Principles of Economics, Statistics, Intermediate Microeconomics, Urban Economics, Public Finance, Environmental Economics, Industrial Organization, Managerial Economics, and the Economic Development of Asia. Graduate-level courses taught include Statistics, Quantitative Methods, Managerial Economics, the Business Environment of Asia, and Doing Business with China. In 2001, he was awarded the USD Parents' Association Award of Excellence after being nominated by one of his students. He was voted "Professor of the Year" by the graduate business students at USD for the 2002 - 2003 academic year. Professor Gin is one of the affiliated faculty members of the University of San Diego's Real Estate Institute. His other research interests include local public finance, urban transportation, and the economy of San Diego. On the latter subject, he is best known for developing and publishing the University of San Diego's Index of Leading Economic Indicators for San Diego County, a monthly report on the outlook for the local economy. Professor Gin's insights on the local economy have made him a popular source for interviews, and he has given nearly 800 interviews to local and national media sources. He has been quoted in the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the San Diego Daily Transcript, the San Diego Business Journal, and other publications. He has also been interviewed on KPBS, KFMB, KOGO, KSDO, and KCEO radio, and has made appearances on KFMB, KGTV, KNSD, KUSI, KSWB, and XETV television. For his work on forecasting the local economy, he has been named to the San Diego Business Journal's "Who's Who" list. In addition to studying the local economy, Professor Gin also has an interest in the business environment of Asia in general and of greater China in particular. At one point, he served as the Director of Communications for the John M. Ahlers Center for International Business at the University of San Diego. He taught in the University's Summer Study Abroad Programs in Hong Kong and Beijing/Shanghai, and has traveled extensively in the region.

Selected Current Research

Broadcast Media

Gin, A. (2013). Gas Prices. NBC 7 San Diego

Gin, A. (2013). San Diego Labor Market. KPBS Radio

Gin, A. (2013). San Diego Labor Market. KPBS Television

Gin, A. (2013). San Diego Labor Market. KUSI News

Gin, A. (2012). Albertsons to Cut 2500 Jobs. NBC San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). How High Gas Prices Can Be Good. NBC San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). SD Economy on Upswing. NBC San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Soaring Gas Prices Slow Down Economy. NBC San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Where San Diegans' Tax Dollars are Spent. NBC San Diego

Newsletter

Gin, A. (2012). San Diego's Economic Outlook. Asian Business Association (September 2012)

Gin, A. (2011). California vs. Texas - Not What the Conventional Wisdom Suggests. Asian Business Association

Gin, A. (2011). California’s Budget Crisis. Asian Business Association

Gin, A. (2011). Dealing with the Deficit. Asian Business Association

Gin, A. (2011). Housing Market Outlook: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Recovery. Asian Business Association

Gin, A. (2010). 2009 San Diego Economy in Review. Asian Business Association

Gin, A. (2010). 2011 Economic Forecast. Asian Business Association

Gin, A. (2010). Housing Market Outlook: L, U, V, or W?. Asian Business Association

Gin, A. (2010). Is the Great Recession Over?. Asian Business Association

Gin, A. (2009). A Light at the End of the Tunnel?. Asian Business Association

Gin, A. (2009). Housing Market Outlook. Asian Business Association

Gin, A. (2009). National Economic Outlook: Is the Bottom in Sight?. Asian Business Association

Gin, A. (2009). San Diego’s Economic Outlook. Asian Business Association

Gin, A. (2009). Will the Stimulus Package Work?. Asian Business Association

Gin, A. (2008). Anatomy of a Crisis. Asian Business Association

Gin, A. (2008). Houses of Blues. Asian Business Association, August

Gin, A. (2008). Inflation Nation. Asian Business Association, June 2

Gin, A. (2008). National Economic Outlook. Asian Business Association, April

Gin, A. (2008). To Recession or Not to Recession, That is the Question. Asian Business Association, Februa

Newspaper

Gin, A. (2013). Are there economic benefits for San Diego in the immigration reform proposals before Congress?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2013). In light of the widespread flu outbreak, should employers in California be required to provide paid sick time off?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2013). Should the U.S. mint a $1 trillion coin as a way to avoid defaulting on the federal debt?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2013). Will the U.S. be better off on Jan. 1, 2014, than it is today?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2008). An economic slowdown? A recession in San Diego has a style of its own . San Diego Union-Tribune (March 2, 2008)

Regular Column in Journal or Newspaper

Gin, A. (2012). Are voters better off economically this Election Day than they were on Election Day 2008?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Besides CEOs, can rank-and-file workers expect a raise in the next 12 months, and if so, in what sectors?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Can families recover the net worth they lost from 2007 to 2010 in the expected economic upturn? If so, how many years will it take?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Considering the industry's role in San Diego's economy, should Congress reverse the defense cutbacks?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Considering the industry's role in San Diego's economy, should Congress reverse the defense cutbacks?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Did presidential candidates' comments satisfactorily address the many issues facing the economy in 2013 and beyond?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Do tax cuts lead to economic growth?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Do you expect a run on banks in Greece or other European countries in the next six months?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Do you have any noneconomic indicators that tell you how the economy is doing?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Do you think Obama's proposed tax structure, including raising taxes on the wealthy, in the new federal budget will benefit the economy?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Does higher consumer confidence point to an upturn in the economy?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Does the Dow Jones average topping the 13,000 mark for the first time in four years signal that the economy is on a sustainable upward swing?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Does the Greek debt solution provide a good model for handling other European countries' financial problems and helping the European economy?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Does the lottery have any economic benefit?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Does the outcome of the Greek election bode well for a resolution to the European debt crisis and general economic improvement in the U.S.?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Economy Q1: No A's For Us. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Given the weak labor market, can workers hope for higher wages and benefits anytime soon?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). If China is officially labeled as a 'currency manipulator,' as Mitt Romney proposes, is there an upside for the U.S.?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). If the Supreme Court overturns or sharply scales back Obama's health care law, will there be serious implications for those who again would not be able to afford insurance?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Is a proposed $1.5 billion stadium complex on the 10th Avenue Marine Terminal an economically wise investment for the San Diego region?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Is income inequality a threat to America's prosperity?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Is it good economics for the NFL to have a blackout policy for football games when attendance lags?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Is it wise economic policy to cap college student loan interest rates?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Is raising the effective federal tax rate on the wealthy to 30 percent, regardless of income source, good economic policy?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Is the economic payback from the Fed's low-interest-rate policy worth small returns to seniors, other dependent on fixed-income investment?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Is the latest Republican plan by Rep. Paul Ryan to reform income tax rates and cut federal spending a credible way to reduce the deficit?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Is the U.S. better off today than it was four years ago? How about individual Americans?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Is there a short-term fix to the state's budget woes that varies from the cuts and higher taxes being considered?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Is there one deduction or tax break Washington should reduce or eliminate to generate substantially more revenue?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Midyear check. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Rising gas prices are on every San Diegan's mind. Are you concerned that the economic recovery will be threatened by the rising prices?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Should Europe simply give up on Greece and let it leave the eurozone?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Should school districts use construction dollars for computers and other equipment when there are so many maintenance and capital needs?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Should students or unemployed people accept an unpaid internship with the hopes of getting a paid job in a few weeks?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Should taxpayers spend their refunds to boost the local economy?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Should the U.S. replace the dollar bill with the dollar coin and save a projected $4.4 billion over 30 years?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). The Federal Reserve decided not to do anything at its meeting Wednesday. Was that the right decision? . U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). What are you thankful for, economically, this Thanksgiving weekend?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). What one action in the postelection period should be taken to speed up economic recovery?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). What one question on the economy would you ask President Obama and Mitt Romney?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). What surprised you most about the key economic indicators in 2012?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Will companies opt to pay tax penalties rather than continue offering health care coverage?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Will the 'Show us your papers' decision by the Supreme Court on Arizona's immigration law lead to many of those worried workers moving to California and boosting local growth and the economy? . U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Will the elections results on pensions in S.D. and elsewhere lead to a brain drain in government workers as benefits are cut to balance budgets?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Will the Fed's latest moves to keep interest rates low and expand the money supply stimulate the economy enough to produce more job creation?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Will the London Olympics, which cost $14 billion to put on, yield the projected $20 billion economic payback?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Will the temporary spike in gas prices have any longer-lasting impact on consumer confidence and the S.D. economy?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). Will the U.S. be better off by Election Day than it is today?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). With Michigan's approval of right-to-work laws, is there a place for organized labor in 21st-century America?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). With Rep. Paul Ryan's selection as Mitt Romney's running mate, will Ryan's budget plan reduce the federal deficit?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). With the financial prospects so muddled, is there a safe and lucrative place to put your savings and investment dollars?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2012). With the stocks rebounding in recent days, should big and small investors return to the stock market?. U-T San Diego

Gin, A. (2011). Are our economic problems today attributable in some way to the measures taken after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks? . The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Are the early positive signs of increased holiday spending signs for an upswing in the economy for 2012?. The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Are the Occupy Wall Street activists correct that the economy benefits 1 percent of Americans to the detriment of everyone else? . The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Can any President, regardless of party, greatly change the economy? . San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Can we be thankful for something going right in the economy?. San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Did you habve a major professional accomplishment in 2011? What surprised you most about the economy this year?. The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Do you think San Diego consumers will be in a better buying mood this coming holiday season than they were in 2010? . The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Is a federal flat tax a good alternative to the current income tax system? . The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Is President Obama's proposal to raise taxes on millionaires and billionaires good public policy? . The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Is the $90 billion devoted to infrastructure in President Obama's $447 billion jobs bill a good approach to boosting construction employment? . The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Is the euro going to survive as a viable currency, given the weakness of the European Union's economy? . The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Is the United States headed back toward recession? . The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Is there more the Federal Reserve can do to spur economic growth?. The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Should Congress include a tighter cap on mortgage interest deductions as part of its next phase of budget cutting? . The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Should mortgage lenders adopt the president's new refinancing plan to help 'underwater' homeowners? . The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Will the U.S. economy benefit from the declining value of the U.S. dollar?. The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). With the stock market in turmoil, is your personal portfolio worth more today than it was on Jan. 1? What advice would you give the rest of us?. The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gin, A. (2011). Would you give an A to President Obama or any of the Republican candidates running for president for their knowledge of economics? . The San Diego Union-Tribune

Research Report

Gin, A. (2012). April - June 2012 Index of Leading Economic Indicators for San Diego County. Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate

Gin, A. (2012). August 2012 Index of Leading Economic Indicators for San Diego County. Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate

Gin, A. (2012). December 2011 Index of Leading Economic Indicators for San Diego County. Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate

Gin, A. (2012). January 2012 Index of Leading Economic Indicators. Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate

Gin, A. (2012). July 2012 Index of Leading Economic Indicators for San Diego County. Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate

Gin, A. (2012). March 2012 Index of Leading Economic Indicators for San Diego County. Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate

Gin, A. (2012). October 2012 Index of Leading Economic Indicators for San Diego County. Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate

Gin, A. (2012). September 2012 Index of Leading Economic Indicators for San Diego County. Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate

Ratcliff, R., Gin, A. (2011). The Outlook for the San Diego Economy: 2011-13. UCLA Anderson Forecast