Craig Carpenter

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Associate Professor
MSU Extension

Degrees:
Ph.D., Michigan State University
B.A., Kalamazoo College

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, economic growth, and public policy. He also examines policy questions related to the effects of government programs like redlining and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on labor market, health, and food security outcomes. He has published numerous journal articles on entrepreneurship, public policy, and regional economic growth and has been honored with research and outreach awards. He has served in multiple leadership roles, including the Chair of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association’s Community and Regional Economic Network (CRENET) and Extension (EXT) sections, President of a 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.

Dr. Carpenter’s Extension efforts revolve around community and economic development. He develops curricula and facilitates community and regional economic workshops across Michigan to help communities identify and implement economic development opportunities. He conducts research on regional minority entrepreneurship, and quality of life relevant to maintaining populations, jobs, and income. He 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.

In addition to the dozens of academic journal articles, Dr. Carpenter has published over 75 Extension/outreach publications, provided interviews for popular press articles, developed the History of Redlining in Michigan website, and presented at over 50 Extension/outreach meetings.

Research Interests: