Personal Info

About Me

My entire life is one big tour of the former British Empire's crown colonies. Born and raised in Malaysia for 7 years, my family decided to provide my sister and I with a better education by going somewhere "great". Hence, we landed in Birmingham, Great Britain where I spent the next 4 years completing primary school. We then moved to Bengaluru, India for 6 years where I completed my middle and high school. I then moved to Minnesota, USA and attended Gustavus Adolphus College, majoring in Economics. My Economics PhD is from West Virginia University, Morgantown. Overall, my life is one giant tour of the ol' crown colonies.

Outside of economics, I am a fan of travelling, drawing, and reading history. The map below presents all the countries I've resided, and visited. I enjoy drawing and sketching with fine liner pens, especially animated shows such as One-Piece, and Bleach. History has interested me since middle school, particularly World War I & II history. My hobby reading focuses on influential figures surrounding that time period, internal political dynamics, and strategies to secure & maintain influence within governments.

Countries Resided:

Malaysia; Penang, 2 years ➡ Kuala Lumpur, 5 years
U.K; Birmingham, 4 years
India; Bengaluru, 6 years
U.S; Minnesota, 4 years ➡ West Virginia, 5 years ➡ Georgia, 2024-

Countries Visited:

Asia: Cambodia, Hong Kong, IndonesiaD, Japan, MalaysiaD, MaldivesD, Myanmar, PhilippinesD, Singapore, South Korea, Sri LankaD, Thailand, Vietnam
Arabian Peninsula: OmanD, U.A.E
Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden
Oceania: Australia, New Zealand

(D): I am a PADI open-water certified diver and have scuba dived in the country

US States Visited:

Alabama: Auburn
Arizona: Sedona, Flagstaff
Georgia: Rome
Illinois: Normal, Chicago
Kansas: Wichita
Louisiana: New Orleans
Massachusetts: Boston
Minnesota: Mankato, Twin Cities, St.Cloud, Luvurne
Missouri: St. Louis
New Jersey: Newark
New York: New York City
North Carolina: Charlotte
Oregon: Ritter, Pendelton, Newport, Hood River
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia
Washington, DC
West Virginia: Charleston, Morgantown
Wisconsin: Minong

Favorite Books & Research

The Political Economy of Populism
- - Guriev, S., & Papaioannou, E. (2022). The political economy of populism. Journal of Economic Literature, 60(3), 753-832
The Washington War: FDR's Inner Circle and the Politics of Power That Won World War II
- - Lacey, J. (2020). The Washington War: FDR's Inner Circle and the Politics of Power that Won World War II. Bantam.
Informational Autocracies
- - Guriev, S., & Treisman, D. (2019). Informational autocrats. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 33(4), 100-127.
Stalin: The Court of The Red Tsar
- - Montefiore, S. S. (2010). Stalin: The Court of The Red Tsar. Hachette UK.
From Foot Soldier to Finance Minister: Takahashi Korekiyo, Japan's Keynes
- - Smethurst, R. (2007). From Foot Soldier to Finance Minister: Takahashi Korekiyo, Japan's Keynes. Harvard University Asia Center Publications Program.
The Economics of World War II: Six Great Powers in International Comparisons
- - Harrison, M. (Ed.). (2000). The economics of World War II: six great powers in international comparison. Cambridge University Press.
The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves
- - Ridley, M. (2012). The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves. Brock Education Journal, 21(2).