In the 1980's US Governors across the country recognized the importance of integrating international trade into state economic policies. The investments of Japanese car plants and their suppliers throughout the south alerted state policy makers of this huge opportunity for job creation from foreign direct investment. Trade promotion was also a key policy focus to help existing firms grow their businesses through trade expansion. Many states created foreign offices to help their State firms find partners abroad to increase jobs at home as well as to promote foreign direct investment in the USA.
As a result, States organized Trade Missions to increase jobs. Some Governors were better prepared than others to meet this challenge. Some foreign partners like Taiwan saw this as an opportunity to develop close working relationships with State leaders on the fast track to national prominence. This book highlights some of these case studies.
Liz Cleveland completed her undergraduate studies in International Business and Education at the University of Mississippi and Memphis State University. She’s a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute and Thunderbird School of Global Management. Cleveland worked as the International Officer of Union Planters Bank (now Regions bank) in Memphis, Tennessee. She served as International Policy Representative to U.S. Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi in Washington D.C. and International Trade Director of the Mississippi Development Authority for seven Mississippi governors over a 35 -year period. Her teaching experience includes accredited courses at the University of Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi, Belhaven College, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Hinds Community College and William Carey University.
I am thrilled to be offering this book electronically in partnership with Great River Learning. I have become frustrated that no recent microeconomics textbooks bring the most recent developments in international trade into their publications. When GRL approached me to write this book I finally had a chance to develop what I thought were important applications of economic concepts in a contemporary context. We can add updates to this publication in as little as a day to reflect the latest economic topics. I got tired of asking other publishers to add more content on China, Greece, Brexit and USMCA given their huge impact on the global economy! I just updated the latest on Brexit in the final edits!
I have found so many available videos on the web from Crash Course Economics and the Khan Academy and want to thank both organizations for making their videos available! I finally have a place to put all my 30 years of experiences as an economics and International trade advisor to over seven US Governors and one Mayor! I also had the opportunity to intern in the White House with Larry Kudlow, current Economic Advisor to the President but during the Regan Administration in OMB.
I have a BA in International Affairs from the George Washington University with a concentration in international economics and a Masters of Science degree from the London School of Economics, faculty of Economics! I have taught part time since the mid 80's and love teaching. I accepted a full time tenured position at Mt. Hood Community College as the Lead Instructor for Economics and enjoy working with so many bright students just outside of Portland, OR.
Peter was interviewed on the podcast, Can I Get a Retake? Listen below!