Omer Gokcekus, Ph.D.

Omer Gokcekus is an Associate Professor of international economics and development. His research interests include the relationship between interest groups and trade policies, organizational architecture and performance in public sector organizations, the dynamics and effects of corruption, economic development, and foreign aid.

In addition to publishing articles in journals such as Economics and Politics, Economics Letters, Public Choice, and Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Dr. Gokcekus has co-authored books on public sector governance and performance in Guyana and Bangladesh, and contributed to Transparency International’s Annual Corruption Report on political patronage, gender, declaration of asset laws and regulations and corruption in public organizations.

Dr. Gokcekus coordinates the School's Faculty Lunch Seminar Series.

Prior to joining the Whitehead School, Dr. Gokcekus taught at Duke University and North Carolina Central University.  Since 1999, he has worked as a consultant for the World Bank. While with the World Bank, Dr. Gokcekus participated in public sector reform projects in sixteen countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Indonesia, and six East Caribbean countries. To learn more about the project examining the effect of asset declaration laws and conflict of interest laws on the level of corruption within developing countries, click here.

Omer Gokcekus received a Ph.D. from Duke University with a concentration in International Economics, Development Economics, and Econometrics. He earned a M.S. and B.S. in Economics at Middle East Technical University.

Courses Frequently Offered
Graduate
DIPL 6113: International Financial Institutions
DIPL 6155: Advanced Economic Aspects of International Relations
DIPL 6170: Advanced Topics in Economic Development
DIPL 6311: Masters Research Project
DIPL 6509: European Union and Cyprus Seminar

Undergraduate
DIPL 4114: International Financial Institutions
DIPL 4170: Topics in Economic Development
DIPL 2112: European Union and Cyprus Seminar

Recent Research and Publications

“The Cotton Influence Index: An Examination of the US Cotton Subsidies.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics. With Richard Fishler. Forthcoming.

 “Quantifying Corruption by a Human Capital Equation.” International Review of Economics, 55(3), pp. 243-252, September 2008. With Amy Muedin.

 “Is it Protestant Tradition or Current Protestant Population That Affects Corruption?” Economics Letters, 99     (1), pp. 59-92, April 2008.

 The Economics of the Isolation of Turkish Cypriots. (Kyrenia, Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, March 2008).

 “Green-Line Regulation and Its Economic Implications in Cyprus.” Armenian Journal of Public Policy, Proceedings, pp. 175-193, February 2008.

 “Is Globalization Good for Wine Drinkers in the United States?” Journal of Wine Economics, 2(2), pp. 187-195.  December 2007. With Andrew Fargnoli.

 “Political Economy of the US Temporary Duty Suspension Program: An Empirical Note.” Public Choice, 131 (3-3): pp. 345-350, June 2007. With Amber Barth.

  “Does Quality of Openness Affect Corruption?” Economics Letters, 91, pp. 190-196, May 2006.  With Jan Knoerich.

  “How did the 2003 Prescription Drug Re-importation Bill Pass the House?” Economics and Politics. 18(1), pp. 27-45, 2006. With M. Adams, H. Grabowski, and E. Tower.

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