Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

On October 31, Dr. Aleksandr V. Gevorkyan from St. John's University presented his research at a conference organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). The event focused on "Commodity Price Volatility and the Sustainable Development Goals."

Dr. Gevorkyan's presentation, titled "Primary Commodity Exports: A conversation on economic development models," explored the impact of dominant currency effects on structural economic development in primary commodity-exporting low-income economies.

"In my presentation, I commented on a complex interconnection between dominant currency effects and structural economic development across primary commodity exporting low-income economies," said Gevorkyan. He highlighted the challenges faced by small economies in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, which are often overlooked in economic policy discussions. "Through my research and presentation, I draw policymakers’ attention to those nations’ macroeconomic development models," he added.

Dr. Gevorkyan holds the Henry George Chair in Economics and is a Professor of Economics at St. John's University's Peter J. Tobin College of Business. His next engagement will be delivering the Henry George Lecture on February 10, where guest economist Branko Milanovic will discuss his book "Visions of Inequality."