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Michael R Ward

Professor, Economics
Last Updated: September 21, 2020
about me

Research Interests

Research Interests
Empirical analysis of high technology industries. Strategic Behavior

Research Keywords

Research Keywords
IT, Pharmaceutical, Video Games

Teaching Interests

Teaching Interests
Microeconomics, Industrial Organization, Strategy, Empiricl Methods

Biography

Biography

Michael Ward is Professor of Economics at the University of Texas at Arlington and Research Associate at the Digital Economics Department of the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim, Germany. He studied mathematics and economics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and earned his doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago. Previous positions include Staff Economist at the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Assistant and Associate Professorships at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign. He has had past affiliate research positions with Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (IPEA) in Brazil, with the Institute for Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) at the University of Illinois, with the Consortium for Research on Telecommunications Policy (CRTP), and with ZEW.

Michael Ward has worked as a professional economist in government, academia, and the private sector. His research interests include competition and innovation policy in high technology industries, most recently in the video games industry. His research has appeared in the Review of Economics and Statistics, Journal of Law and Economics, Research Policy, and Journal of Industrial Economics. He is a coauthor of the textbook Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach. His research address economic consequences of hiegh technology innovations, especially in IT. His recent research has focused on the evolution of the video game industry.

Education

Education

    • 1993 PhD in Economics
      University of Chicago, 1993
    • 1986 MA in Economics
      University of Chicago, 1986
    • 1983 BA in Mathematics & Economics
      Univ of Calif Los Angeles, 1983

Appointments

Appointments

    • Aug 2013 to Present Research Associate
      Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung GmbH (ZEW)
    • 2010 to 2013 Research Fellow
      Instituto de Pesquisa Econonica Aplicada (IPEA)
    • 2003 to 2012 Assistant Professor of Economics
      University of Texas at Arlington

Awards and Honors

    • Dec  2012 College of Business Research Grant Award sponsored by College of Business, UTA
    • Dec  2010 College of Business Research Grant Award sponsored by College of Business, UTA

News Articles

News Articles

    • Feb 2020 Times of London
      Story on video game violence in which I was interviewed.
    • Jan 2020 Signs of the Times
      Cites "Cutting class to play video games" as an explanation for changes in the desirabillity of men in the dating market.
    • Apr 2016 Time Magazine
      A new study suggests that playing sexist video games can reduce empathy toward female violence victims, Time Magazine reported. The article quoted Michael Ward, a UTA professor of economics who has studied the link between violent video games and behavior. Ward's research shows that playing violent games doesn’t necessarily mean a person will engage in a violent act in real life in part, perhaps, because of the time spent playing the games. “There is a perfectly reasonable expectation that as people engage in media, they get desensitized,” Ward said. “I am not taking any stance on whether the psychological effect is there or not. What we might really be interested in is the actual violence against women.” Also featured in Cosmopolitan. http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/news/a56923/violent-video-games-effects-empathy/
    • Aug 2015 Natural News.com
      Natural News.com quoted Michael Ward, a professor of economics at UT Arlington, in a story about patents expiring for Monsanto’s genetically modified Roundup Ready soybean and the impact to drug makers and farmers. Experts believe generic, cheaper versions of the same drug will rush in to fill the void of soybean seed. “If you see TV ads for drugs, they don’t say much about the medication. They’re just happy people dancing and doing fun things,” Ward said. “Those types of ads are probably not going [to] sway farmers. Seeds are core to farmers’ business.
    • June 2015 Scientific American
      Conventional wisdom suggests violent media is harming kids but some research says that sometimes a game is just a game, Scientific American reported. The article cited research by Michael Ward, a UT Arlington economics professor, which found that higher rates of violent game sales actually coincided with a drop in crimes, especially violent crimes.
    • Oct 2014 LearnLiberty.org
      UT Arlington Economics Professor Michael Ward talked about how violent video games do not increase violence in a particular region but how violent incidents decrease in those regions, a LearnLiberty.org video reported. In the video, Ward appears as an avatar, describing his position.
    • July 2014 The Economist
      The Economist noted research by Mike Ward, UT Arlington economics professor, in an article about the variable benefits of investing in infrastructure. Returns on infrastructure, like any investment, can fall off steeply. In a working paper released last year, Ward and Shilin Zheng of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences study China’s massive telecoms rollout of recent decades. Only 1 percent of the population had fixed-line phones in 1990; by 2006 that number had risen nearly 30-fold. From 1990-99, the first decade of the telecoms boom, they calculate that phone services contributed two percentage points to China’s growth rate, a huge dividend. From 2000-10, the contribution was down to half a percentage point.
    • July 2014 The Economist
      A story in The Economist mentioned a working paper released last year by Michael Ward, professor of economics at University of Texas at Arlington, and Shilin Zheng, of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The team studied China’s massive telecoms rollout of recent decades. Among their findings was that from 1990-99, the first decade of the telecoms boom, phone services contributed two percentage points to China’s growth rate, a huge dividend.
    • Sept 2013 Zero Hora
      Whether the impact of playing violent video games influences real violence from those players continues to be debated, Zero Hora, a Brazilian magazine reported. Michael Ward, UT Arlington economics professor in the College of Business, was quoted in the article. His published work says that when violent video games are played, acts of violence tend to drop slightly. Marcelo Pesseghini, a 13-year-old Brazilian boy who killed his family and himself, played one such violent video game, the article said.
    • May 2013 KLAS/CBS 8 (Las Vegas)
      Research from a UT Arlington economics professor Michael Ward was mentioned in a report on violent video games and gun violence in society on KLAS/CBS 8 (Las Vegas). Ward’s research team reported in 2011 that they found a 1 percent increase in violent games associated with a slight decrease in violent crime and "robust evidence that violence in media may even have social benefits by reducing crime."
    • Feb 2013 New York Times
      UT Arlington economics professor Mike Ward was quoted in a New York Times story about research into whether playing violent video games has any effect on behavior. “I don’t know that a psychological study can ever answer that question definitively,” Ward said. “We are left to glean what we can from the data and research on video game use that we have.”
    • May 2012 Counterpoint
      The ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) National Radio program, Counterpoint, interviewed Mike Ward, associate professor of economics at UT Arlington, about his research into video games and violence. The podcast may be found at: http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2012/05/cpt_20120507_1605.mp3.
    • May 2012 Counterpoint
      Mike Ward, associate professor of economics at UT Arlington, will appear Monday, May 7, on the national ABC radio program, Counterpoint, to discuss video games and violence. Ward’s 2010 research into video games and adolescent fighting was published in the Journal of Law and Economics, and has been cited in numerous news reports.
    • Oct 2011 WREG-TV/CBS 3 (Memphis, Tenn.)
      WREG-TV/CBS 3 (Memphis, Tenn.) broadcast a story in which Michael Ward, UT Arlington associate professor of economics, was interviewed about his research on video games that showed when sales of violent games increase, violent crime decreases. The story initially aired on KDAF-TV/CW 33 (Dallas).
    • Oct 2011 KDAF/CW 33
      As sales of violent video games go up, violent crimes in that area go down, a recent study by Michael Ward, a UT Arlington associate professor in economics, concludes. CW Channel 33 KDAF reported on the study.
    • Mar 2011 KTVT/CBS 11
      Mike Ward, associate professor of economics, has new evidence that shows video games may actually reduce violent behavior. Dr. Ward is part of a team that published the research last month, and it boils down to a very simple concept: the more time kids spend playing games, the less time they have to get into trouble. His research was featured in a CBS11 news segment on May 18, 2011.

Other Activities

Other Activities

      • Aug 2013
        Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung GmbH
      • Apr 2013
        Safoco, Inc
      • May 2018
        Andra Group
      • Dec 2016
        Opinion on For-profit universities
        ITT Tech
      • Mar 2011
        Huffines Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge of Plano

Support & Funding

Support & Funding

This data is entered manually by the author of the profile and may duplicate data in the Sponsored Projects section.
    • Nov 2016 to Oct 2017 Does playing video games cause long-term violent behaviors? sponsored by  -  $16875
      Michael Ward (Funded)
    • Past to Aug 2014 Learning about Scientific Research Capabilities sponsored by  -  $0
      Michael Ward (Not Funded)
    • 2012 to 2013 Effects of Knowledge and Learning in Technology Adoption: Social Networks, Adoption, and Persistence in the Video Game Market sponsored by  -  $132292
      Michael Ward (Funded)
    • Feb 2013 to Aug 2013 Cross industry Comparisons of the Effect of Regulatory Stringency on R&D Spending sponsored by  -  $4500
      (Funded)
    • Feb 2008 to Jan 2009 ?Empircal Tests for CreativeDestruction in the Pharmaceutical Industry? sponsored by  -  $22051
      Michael Ward (Funded)

Publications

Presentations

    • June  2020
      Ward, MichaelR, "Patterns in Meme Production", Claremont Graduate School, online. (June , 2020).
    • June  2020
      Ward, MichaelR, "Patterns in Meme Production", SCECR, online. (June , 2020).
    • May  2020
      Ward, MichaelR, "Patterns in Meme Production", UTA, online. (May , 2020).
    • July  2019
      Ward, MichaelR. (Author), "Esport Superstars", Vilnius, Lithuania. (July , 2019).
    • June  2019
      Ward, MichaelR. (Author), "Esport Superstars", DRUID, Copenhagen, Denmark. (June , 2019).
    • June  2019
      Ward, MichaelR. (Author), "Esport Superstars", INEKA, Verona, Italy. (June , 2019).
    • June  2019
      Ward, MichaelR. (Author), "The Long Tail in Online Books: Evidence from the Closing of Borders Bookstores", Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung , Mannheim, Germany. (June , 2019).
    • August  2018
      Ward, MichaelR, "Strategic Microscheduling of Movies", Los Angeles, CA. (August 3, 2018).
    • July  2018
      Ward, MichaelR, "Adolescent Video Game Playing and Fighting over the Long-term", NIH, Bethesda, MD. (July 24, 2018).
    • April  2018
      Ward, MichaelR, "Homophily and Engagement: Evidence from a Video Game Network", Telecom ParisTech, Paris, France. (April 7, 2018).
    • March  2018
      Ward, MichaelR, "Homophily and Engagement: Evidence from a Video Game Network", KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. (March 1, 2018).
    • February  2018
      Ward, MichaelR, "Esports Superstars", ZEW, Mannheim, Germany. (February 26, 2018).
    • July  2017
      Ward, MichaelR, "Homophilly and Social Network Engagement: Evidence from a Video Gaming Network", Thessaloniki, Greece. (July 8, 2017).
    • June  2017
      Ward, MichaelR, "Homophilly and Social Network Engagement: Evidence from a Video Gaming Network", ZEW, Mannheim, Germany. (June 17, 2017).
    • June  2017
      Ward, MichaelR, "Homophilly and Social Network Engagement: Evidence from a Video Gaming Network", Munich, Germany. (June 7, 2017).
    • April  2017
      Ward, MichaelR, "Homophily and Engagement: Evidence from a Video Game Network", NSF, St. Louis, MO. (April 29, 2017).
    • April  2017
      Ward, MichaelR, "Homophilly and Social Network Engagement: Evidence from a Video Gaming Network", IIOC, Boston, MA. (April 8, 2017).
    • October  2016
      Ward, MichaelR, "Cutting Class to Play Video Games", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. (October 8, 2016).
    • July  2016
      Ward, MichaelR, "energy workshop", The Property and Environmental Research Center, Bozeman, MT. (July 29, 2016).
    • June  2016
      Ward, MichaelR, "Susceptibility and Influence in Social Contagion", LMU, Munich, Munich, Germany. (June 8, 2016).
    • May  2016
      Ward, MichaelR, "Cutting Class to Play Video Games", Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK. (May 23, 2016).
    • May  2016
      Ward, MichaelR, "Strategic timing of entry: evidence from video games", Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK. (May 20, 2016).
    • October  2015
      Ward, MichaelR, "Cutting Class to Play Video Games", King's College, London, London, UK. (October 2, 2015).
    • October  2015
      Ward, MichaelR, "Susceptibility and Influence in Social Contagion", Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK. (October 1, 2015).
    • September  2015
      Ward, MichaelR, "Mobile telecommunications service and economic growth: Evidence from China", Washington, DC. (September 24, 2015).

Students Supervised

    • Aug 2017
      Directed Individual/Independent Study
      Alexander Harmon, (Economics)
      Economics of eSport Superstars

Courses

      • ECON 5343-001 CAUSAL INFERENCE BUS DECISIONS
        (Course Id: 112298)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2020 Download Syllabus
      • ECON 5314-001 ECON ANALYSIS BUS DECISIONS
        (Course Id: 100605)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2020 Download Syllabus
      • ECON 5313-001 DECISIONS AND STRATEGY
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2020
      • ECON 5382-001 INDEPENDENT STUDIES IN ECON
        (Course Id: 100631)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2020
      • ECON 3310-001 MICROECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100562)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2020
      • ECON 5343-001 CAUSAL INFERENCE BUS DECISIONS
        (Course Id: 112298)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2019 Download Syllabus
      • ECON 5314-001 ECON ANALYSIS BUS DECISIONS
        (Course Id: 100605)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2019
      • ECON 5313-001 DECISIONS AND STRATEGY
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2019
      • ECON 4331-001 SEMINAR IN ECONOMICS
        (Topic: The Economics of Video Games | Course Id: 100586)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2019
      • ECON 5391-001 SPECIAL TOPICS IN ECONOMICS
        (Topic: The Economics of Video Games | Course Id: 100632)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2019
      • ECON 5343-001 CAUSAL INFERENCE BUS DECISIONS
        (Course Id: 112298)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2018
      • ECON 5314-001 ECON ANALYSIS BUS DECISIONS
        (Course Id: 100605)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2018
      • ECON 5343-001 CAUSAL INFERENCE BUS DECISIONS
        (Course Id: 112298)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2017 Download Syllabus
      • ECON 5314-001 ECON ANALYSIS BUS DECISIONS
        (Course Id: 100605)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2017 Download Syllabus
      • ECON 5382-001 INDEPENDENT STUDIES IN ECON
        (Course Id: 100631)
        Summer - Eleven Week - 2017
      • ECON 4311-002 ECONOMICS FOR MANAGERS
        (Course Id: 100575)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2017 Download Syllabus
      • ECON 5313-001 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2017 Download Syllabus
      • ECON 5343-001 CAUSAL INFERENCE BUS DECISIONS
        (Course Id: 112298)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2016 Download Syllabus
      • ECON 5314-001 ECON ANALYSIS BUS DECISIONS
        (Course Id: 100605)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2016 Download Syllabus
      • ECON 5315-001 COMP, INNOVATION & STRATEGY
        (Course Id: 100606)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2016 Download Syllabus
      • ECON 5313-001 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2016 Download Syllabus
      • ECON 5314-001 ECON ANALYSIS BUS DECISIONS
        (Course Id: 100605)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2015
      • ECON 5313-001 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2015
      • ECON 5313-001 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2015
      • ECON 5310-001 MICROECONOMIC THEORY
        (Course Id: 100601)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2015
      • ECON 5313-001 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2014
      • ECON 5313-020 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2014
      • ECON 5313-001 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2014
      • ECON 5310-001 MICROECONOMIC THEORY
        (Course Id: 100601)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2014
      • ECON 5313-001 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2013
      • ECON 5310-001 MICROECONOMIC THEORY
        (Course Id: 100601)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2013
      • ECON 3310-001 MICROECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100562)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2013
      • ECON 5313-001 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2012
      • ECON 5313-003 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2012
      • ECON 5313-003 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2012
      • ECON 5310-001 MICROECONOMIC THEORY
        (Course Id: 100601)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2012
      • ECON 5698-001 THESIS
        (Course Id: 100634)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2012
      • ECON 5313-001 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2011
      • ECON 5313-003 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2011
      • ECON 5698-001 THESIS
        (Course Id: 100634)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2011
      • ECON 5398-001 THESIS
        (Course Id: 100633)
        Summer - Eleven Week - 2011
      • ECON 5310-001 MICROECONOMIC THEORY
        (Course Id: 100601)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2011
      • ECON 3310-001 MICROECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100562)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2011
      • ECON 5698-001 THESIS
        (Course Id: 100634)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2011
      • ECON 5313-002 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2010
      • ECON 3310-001 MICROECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100562)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2010
      • ECON 5313-001 MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100604)
        Summer - Eleven Week - 2010
      • ECON 3310-001 MICROECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100562)
        Summer - Five Week - First - 2010
      • ECON 5310-001 MICROECONOMIC THEORY
        (Course Id: 100601)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2010
      • ECON 3310-001 MICROECONOMICS
        (Course Id: 100562)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2010
      • ECON 5698-002 THESIS
        (Course Id: 100634)
        Spring - Regular Academic Session - 2010
      • ECON 4311-001 ECONOMICS FOR MANAGERS
        (Course Id: 100575)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2009
      • ECON 5382-001 INDEPENDENT STUDIES IN ECON
        (Course Id: 100631)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2009
      • ECON 5310-001 MICROECONOMIC THEORY
        (Course Id: 100601)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2009
      • ECON 5698-001 THESIS
        (Course Id: 100634)
        Fall - Regular Academic Session - 2009

Service to the University

    • 2015 to  Present Faculty Advisor
      eSports Club

Service to the Profession

    • 1993 to  2020
      Reviewer, Journal Article
      Varous
      Article referee for:
      Applied Economic Perspectives & Policy
      Canadian Journal of Economics
      China Economic Review
      Contemporary Economic Policy
      Economic Inquiry
      Economics of Education Review
      European Journal of Information Systems
      Forum for Health Economics and Policy
      Information, Economics, and Policy
      International Journal of the Economics of Business
      International Regional Science Review
      Journal of Business Research
      Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis
      Journal of Computer-Mediated Communications
      Journal of Developmental Economics
      Journal of Econometrics
      Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization
      Journal of Economics and Management Sciences
      Journal of Human Resources
      Journal of Law and Economics
      Journal of Marketing Theory
      Journal of Marketing
      Journal of Network Economics
      Journal of Political Economy
      Journal of Product and Brand Management
      Journal of Poverty
      Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy
      Journal of Regulatory Economics
      Journal of Sports Economics
      Management Information Systems Quarterly
      Management Science
      Marketing Science
      Nature Human Behaviour
      Research Policy
      Review of Agricultural Economics
      Review of Economics and Finance
      Review of Economics and Statistics
      Review of Industrial Economics
      Review of Managerial Science
      Southern Economic Journal
      Strategic Management Journal
      Technology Analysis & Strategic Management
      Telecommunications Policy
    • June 2012 to  Mar 2015
      Editor, Associate Editor
      Contemporary Economic Policy
    • June 2012 to  Aug 2013
      Editor, Associate Editor
      Information, Economics and Policy
      Special Issue Guest Editor