Stephen Smith teaches Economic Growth and Development, International Economics, Econometrics and introductory courses in microeconomics.  His research and writing focus on trade, global economic development, and growth — topics he addresses technically with empirical analysis and also in terms of Christian theology and ethics. Hope students who assist with his research use advanced empirical techniques and at times accompany him to professional presentations.

With colleagues, he has led two May Term travel-study courses that explored economic and business aspects of Asian economies — covering, altogether, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Vietnam. They focused on the region’s modern growth, which he observed while growing up in Hong Kong and which inspired him to pursue a career as an internationally focused economist. 

Dr. Smith joined the Hope College faculty in 2016 after teaching for 29 years at Gordon College in Massachusetts. From 2019 to 2023 he served as the Department of Economics and Business’ section head for economics. He now serves as the director of Hope’s Global Studies major.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• International economics
• Economic development and growth
• Christian ethical reflection in economics

EDUCATION

• Ph.D., economics, Stanford University, 1988
• A.B., economics, religion, Williams College, 1979

HONORS, GRANTS and AWARDS

• Visiting professor, American Enterprise Institute, 2016–2017 and 2021-2022
• Visiting scholar, United States International Trade Commission (Research Division, Office of Economics), fall 2016
• Senior Distinguished Faculty Award, Gordon College, 2016 and 2007
• “Statism in Economic Development,” Acton Institute grant, 2015
• “Economic Growth in Christian Theological Perspective,” Acton Institute grant, 2014
• “Economic Growth and Human Flourishing,” Council for Christian Colleges and Universities grant, 2011

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• “Indian Importers on Global Markets: Quality, Prices, and Productivity” (with M. Anderson, M. Davies, and J. Signoret), The World Economy, 2023
• “Economics, Theology, and a Case for Economic Growth: An Assessment of Recent Critiques” (with E. Noell), Christian Scholars Review, 2020 
• “A Conversation with Brian Griffiths” (with T. Smith), Faith & Economics, 2019
• “Firm Heterogeneity and Export Pricing in India” (with M. Anderson, M. Davies and J. Signoret), Southern Economic Journal, 2019
• “Firm Heterogeneity, Imported Input Quality and Export Pricing in India” (with M. Anderson, M. Davies and J. Signoret), Global Economy Journal, 2018
• “Ethnic Networks and Price Dispersion” (with M. Anderson and M. Davies), Review of International Economics, 2016
• Economic Growth: Unleashing the Power of Human Flourishing (with E. Noell and B. Webb), AEI Press, 2013

View all of Dr. Smith’s publications on his CV.

Outside the College

At the end of 2024, Dr. Smith will complete two terms as president of the Association of Christian Economists, whose journal, Faith & Economics, he edited for many years. He is also a member of the American Economic Association and the Southern Economic Association. At the American Enterprise Institute think tank in Washington DC, where he is part of its Initiative on Faith & Public Life, from 2016 to 2023 he led AEI’s Summer Honors Program Seminar on International Development for college students from around the world.  

He and his wife, Ann, enjoy traveling  to visit their son, daughter, and grandchildren, and to enjoy the sheer pleasure of seeing the world. As a “third-culture kid,” he likes to visit Asia regularly to stay connected there. He’s a big fan of swimming, the Boston Red Sox and Winston Churchill.