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Running on Economics By James Barnhardt  For most people, donning a pair of running shoes and taking a six to seven mile jaunt down Ocean Drive is a fantastic way to wash away the doldrums of a busy day. For Dr. Jim Lee, Professor of Economics at A&M-Corpus Christi, daily jogs are the time his mind races with ideas for the economic column he writes monthly for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times newspaper. Lee’s economic savvy was tapped two years ago by the editorial staff of the Caller-Times in order to put a “face” on the “Economic Indicators” business presentation that runs in the Sunday newspaper. The College of Business supported Lee 100 percent for taking on this opportunity and even provides the data for the various economic indicator tables. Lee admits that his column has added a level of prestige to his job but only modestly accepts the title of “local expert,” for Lee knows that with the title comes added pressure and responsibility. “Not everyone interprets economic data the same way and numbers can be a touchy subject. When tagged with the title of ‘expert,’ what you say will be taken a lot more seriously than if someone on the street says it,” said Lee. “I am fascinated with interpreting data and how to present it. Rather than focusing on facts, we focus on hard numbers. And if you do not have numbers to show, you cannot tell a story.” Lee’s own story starts in a sparse and spotless office where the first thing you notice is a large photo of a “sparkling city by the sea” sitting on the floor. No further inspection is needed, though, to determine that the photo is not Corpus Christi but rather a portrait of Hong Kong, a glistening city filled with skyscrapers, where Lee was born. He moved to Canada in the late ‘80s as a 16-year-old with his mother and father. It was a time of turmoil as the government of China prepared to reclaim Hong Kong after its 99-year lease to the United Kingdom ran its course. Later, after earning his doctorate, Lee spent 10 years teaching in Kansas. Lee’s photo of Hong Kong facing the bay makes it easy to see why he put the Island University at the top of his list when considering other job opportunities. “If you can find a good university and be impressed with the college you will be teaching in, you can take a job without hesitation,” said Lee. “The people at A&M-Corpus Christi made me feel that way and the weather and water serve as a backdrop to those feelings.” Lee was only 10 years-old when, through chance, he was asked to teach children at a summer camp. From that moment on he knew teaching would be in his future. “I enjoy talking with students, and at the same time, I get a lot of feedback from them and can improve my knowledge base,” said Lee. “The way to teach effectively is through two-way communication, not just computers and telling students to read a book.” He splits his free time between phone calls from city leaders (that sometimes sets his immediate work back a month or more), and breakfast meetings with community leaders who want his input on the future of the economy. Providing this service keeps him busier than he has ever been, but he knows he may never have gotten such an opportunity in another city. “Everything has its drawbacks, its economics. Exposure is not free,” said Lee. “But the University certainly benefits by having a pool of knowledgeable people on campus and the community and media benefit by having a body of experts to draw upon.” Lee’s ability to build a story out of hard numbers has been credited in many circles with the City of Corpus Christi receiving a highly favorable bond rating which allows the city to borrow money cheaper and keep taxes lower. Another study Lee produced has positively affected the tourism industry in Corpus Christi. Kevin Latone, former President of the Coastal Bend Hotel Motel Condominium Association describes Lee as an asset to the community. “Dr. Lee recognizes the impact of tourism on the economy,” said Latone. “He produced a document that we specifically use to speak to people about the impact of tourism in the Coastal Bend.” Along with teaching and column writing, Lee juggles other projects such as figuring the economic impact of small businesses for the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce. The College of Business also has a team of people collecting price data which will be used to enhance the numerical research on the cost of living in Corpus Christi as compared to other cities. Lee would like to get away from it all over the summer – maybe to Canada – where he can immerse himself in theoretical number crunching and educational research. But in all likelihood, Corpus Christi is not going to stop calling on him anytime soon. |
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