Michael Samson

Visiting Associate Professor of Economics

Office: Fernald
E-mail: Michael.Samson@williams.edu
Tel: (413) 597-3086
Fax: (413)-597-4045
Department of Economics
Williams College
Fernald House
Williamstown, MA 01267

Education

Stanford University, Ph.D, 1994
Yale University, B.A., 1983

Fields of Specialization

Macroeconomics
monetary economics
financial liberalization in labor-intensive countries
economics of poverty and social development

Research

Publications and Working Papers

Michael Samson, (with S. Ampofo, K. Mac Quene, A. Ndlebe, I. van Niekerk) "The volatility of the rand and its impact on the manufacturing sector". Commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry (South African government), 2003.

__________, (with G. Standing, eds.) A Basic Income Grant for South Africa, University of Cape Town Press, 2003.

__________, (with C. Haarmann, D. Haarmann, K. Mac Quene, I. van Niekerk, G.Khathi, O. Babson, A. Stevens) "The Social, Economic and Fiscal Impact of a Basic Income Grant for South Africa" in A Basic Income Grant for South Africa, 2003.

Social and Economic Impact of Social Assistance Grants". Research report commissioned by the Department of Social Development (South African Government), 2003.

__________, "HIV/AIDS and poverty in households with children suffering from malnutrition: The role of social security in Mount Frere". South African Journal of Economics Vol. 70:7, 2002.

__________, "The Social, Economic and Fiscal Impact of Comprehensive Social Security Reform for South Africa". Social Dynamics Vol. 28:2, 2002.

__________, (with U. Lee, B. Libresco, G. Khathi, Y. Abrahams, A. Stevens, K. Mac Quene, I. van Niekerk) "The Impact of Trade Liberalisation on Workers in the South African Textile Industry". A Research Report Commissioned by ESSET, 2002.

__________, (with O. Babson, C. Haarmann, D. Haarmann, G. Khathi, I. van Niekerk, and K. Mac Quene) "Social assistance grants and the basic income grant". Commissioned by the Committee of Inquiry into a Comprehensive System of Social Security for South Africa, and incorporated into chapter 5 of the Committee's report to the South African Cabinet, 2002.

__________, (with N. Sogaula, R. van Niekerk, M. Noble, C. Green, and M. Sigala) "Social security transfers, poverty and chronic illness in the Eastern Cape: an investigation of the relationship between social security grants, the alleviation of rural poverty and chronic illnesses including those associated with HIV/AIDS – a case study of Mount Frere in the Eastern Cape". Economic Policy Research Institute, 2002.

__________, (with A. Stevens, T. McCarthy-Johnson, K. Mac Quene and I. van Niekerk) "Linkages between poverty and the environment: evidence from cross-country studies and the 1999 October Household Survey". EPRI Research Paper No. 29. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2002.

__________, (with K. Mac Quene, I. van Niekerk, and T. McCarthy-Johnson) "Poverty, HIV/AIDS and social security". EPRI Research Paper No. 30. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2002.

__________, (with O. Babson, C. Haarmann, D. Haarmann, G. Kathi, K. Mac Quene and I. van Niekerk) "Research Review on Social Security Reform and the Basic Income Grant for South Africa". EPRI Policy Report No. 31. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2002.

__________, (with K. Mac Quene, and I. van Niekerk) "Capital skills/intensity and job creation: an analysis of policy options". EPRI Research Paper No. 18. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2001.

__________, (with C. Haarmann, D. Haarmann, K. Mac Quene, I. van Niekerk, G. Khathi, and O. Babson) "The social impact of reform options: the universal child support grant and the basic income grant". EPRI Research Paper No. 20. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2001.

__________, (with C. Haarmann, D. Haarmann, K. Mac Quene, I. van Niekerk, G. Khathi. and O. Babson) "The economic impact of a basic income grant in South Africa". EPRI Research Paper No. 21. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2001.

__________, (with C. Haarmann, D. Haarmann, K. Mac Quene, I. van Niekerk, G. Khathi and O. Babson) "The fiscal impact of a basic income grant in South Africa". EPRI Research Paper No. 22. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2001.

__________, (with C. Haarmann, D. Haarmann, K. Mac Quene, I. van Niekerk, G. Khathi and O. Babson) "Methodological issues in evaluating poverty policy". EPRI Research Paper No. 23. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2001.

__________, (with C. Haarmann, D. Haarmann, K. Mac Quene, I. van Niekerk, G. Khathi and O. Babson) "Social security take-up and the means test in South Africa". EPRI Research Paper No. 24. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2001.

__________, (with O. Babson, C. Haarmann, D. Haarmann, G. Khathi, I. van Niekerk and K. Mac Quene) "The impact of social security on school enrolment in South Africa". EPRI Research Paper No. 25. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2001.

__________, (with D. Rosenblum, C. Haarmann, D. Haarmann, K. Mac Quene and I. van Niekerk) "The socio-economic impact of "Workfare": Welfare reform lessons from the United States and other international experiences". EPRI Research Paper No. 26. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2001.

__________, (with C. Green and R. van Niekerk) "AIDS, Poverty and Malnutrition". EPRI Research Paper No. 34. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2001.

__________, (with O. Babson, K. Mac Quene, I. van Niekerk and R. van Niekerk) "The macroeconomic implications of poverty-reducing income transfers". EPRI Research Paper No. 9. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2000.

EPRI Research Paper No. 9. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2000.

__________, (with A. Bayat and I. van Niekerk). "Gender equality and comprehensive social security reform". EPRI Research Paper No. 12. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2000.

__________, (with J. Stanley, K. Mac Quene and I. van Niekerk). "An economic appraisal of arguments for and against South Africa's proposed capital gains tax legislation". EPRI Research Paper No. 14. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2000.

__________, (with I. van Niekerk and K. Mac Quene) "Macroeconomic Options for Job Creation and Social Development". EPRI Research Paper No. 15. Economic Policy Research Institute, 2000.

__________, (with K. Mac Quene, I. van Niekerk. and S. Umlauf) "South Africa's arms acquisition package: An analysis of the socio-economic costs and benefits". EPRI Research Paper No. 5. Economic Policy Research Institute, 1999.

__________, (with I. van Niekerk and N. Bovula) "Poverty-eradicating job creation". EPRI Research Paper No. 7. Economic Policy Research Institute, 1999.

__________, (with A. Bayat). "Re-orienting monetary and financial policy towards job creation and the interests of the poor". EPRI Research Paper No. 8. Economic Policy Research Institute, 1999.

__________, "Social investment, economic growth and redistribution: Implications for South Africa's Policy Dilemmas". EPRI Research Paper No. 4. Economic Policy Research Institute, 1998.

__________, (with K. Mac Quene, and I. van Niekerk) "Economic strategies for poverty eradication". ESSET workshop paper, 1998.

__________, "Fiscal policy for job-creating growth". COSATU workshop paper. Congress of South African Trade Unions, 1997.

__________, "Financial Repression, Directed Credit Subsidies, and Declining Income: The Problem of Optimal Monetary Control," Center for Research in Economic Growth Memorandum No. 307, Stanford University, 1993.

Other

Country Experience

Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Namibia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, South Africa