College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics

Publications on Google Scholar

Dr. Carpenter's research efforts focus on the use of federal administrative data to examine questions related to the interaction of race, ethnicity, veteran status, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. More recently, he began examining policy questions related to early life exposure to government programs and effects on later life labor market outcomes. His Extension efforts revolve around community and economic development. He has published numerous articles on entrepreneurship, public policy, and regional economic growth and been honored with research and outreach awards. He has served in multiple leadership roles, including the Chair of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association Community and Regional Economic Network section, President of NE1749 Enhancing Rural Economic Opportunities, Community Resilience, and Entrepreneurship (USDA-funded multistate research project group), Chair of the National Association of Community Development and Extension Professionals Finance Committee, and President of the Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, among others.

Additionally, Dr. Carpenter facilitates community and regional economic workshops across Michigan and Texas to help communities identify and implement economic opportunities with a high likelihood of success. Conducts research on regional minority entrepreneurship, and quality of life relevant to maintaining populations, jobs, and income. Works with graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and trainings for economic development, rural stakeholders, public officials, and extension agents to foster understanding of the tools and research for economic development.

Dr. Carpenter has published 15 outreach publications, produced over 40 blog posts, provided interviews for popular press articles, runs social media accounts, developed the History of Redlining in Michigan website, developed the Economic Opportunity Mapping Tool – which was adopted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Michigan State University Extension, and University of Wyoming Extension – and presented at nearly 50 Extension and outreach conferences and meetings. You can connect with him on Twitter: @DrCWCarpenter.

Research Interests:

• Applied Microeconomics
• Regional Economics
• Entrepreneurship
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Federal Administrative Data

Teaching Experience

• Principles of Microeconomics (Albion College, 2014-2015)
• Intermediate Microeconomics (Albion College, 2014-2015)
• Economics and Management Statistics (Albion College, 2015)