Curriculum Vitae

Karla Borja

Claremont Graduate University  Department of Economics 160 E. Tenth Street Claremont, CA 91711 Phone: (909)-607-9101 Fax: (909)-621-8460 Email: karla.borja@cgu.edu

EDUCATION

Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California

Ph.D., Department of Politics and Economics, 2004. Dissertation Title: Trade Policy Instability Index: The Effects of Trade Policy Instability on Economic Growth

Technological Institute of Mexico, Mexico
M.A. Economics, Department of Economics, 1998. Thesis Title: A model of uncertainty and trade openness: the validation of trade policy.

Central America University, El Salvador
B.A. Economics, Department of Economics, 1993. Thesis Title: A survey on protectionism and productivity in El Salvador: The case of the Manufacturing Industry 1960-1990.

DISERTATION

Trade Policy Instability Index: The Effects of Trade Policy Instability on Economic Growth

Numerous studies have evaluated trade reforms in developing countries; however, information on trade policy instability is quite limited. This study claims that previous indicators offer partial information on policy instability and the design of a new Trade Policy Instability Index (TPI) is a more accurate measure. The TPI consists of three components: the commitment by the authorities to trade policy, and the volatility and consistency among trade policies. Results derived from a panel of 90 countries for the period 1970-2000 indicate that trade policy instability has a negative impact on growth. The contribution to previous research is an alternative measure of trade policy instability and robust tests of the effect of such instability on growth.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Lecturer and Post-Doctoral Fellow  –  Claremont Graduate University, CA. 2004 to present

Part-time Professor  –  California State University, Fullerton, CA. 2004 to present

Part-time Professor  –  Central America University, El Salvador, 1998-2000

Part-time Professor  –  Lutheran University of El Salvador, 1994-1996

· Head of the team responsible for the design of the first national survey on Foreign Investment

· Member of the team in charge of designing guidelines for foreign investment regulation

· Conducted cross-country analysis of the effects of foreign investment in small developing countries (two publications)

Economist - NATIONAL COFFEE EXPORT INSTITUTION, El Salvador. 1993-1996

· Conducted analysis on the economic impact of coffee supply retention plans on the economies of Central America.

PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH PAPERS

·  Working Paper: Trade Policy Instability Index: The Effects of Trade Policy Instability on Economic Growth. November 2004.

·  The IMF and the Relevance of the SDDS. An application of the Principal – Agent Model.
Economic Bulletin of the Central Bank of El Salvador. April 1999.

·  The effects of Foreign Direct Investment on Economic Growth: The case for Central America.  Economic Bulletin of the Central Bank of El Salvador. August 1999.

Research in Progress

·  The effect of Trade Policy Instability on Domestic Investment and Foreign Direct Investment

·  The effects of bilateral and regional trade agreements on trade policy stability

·  The neurophysiology of Distrust (with Paul Zak)

·  Distrust and gender: differences between men and women when giving and receiving

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

· International Studies Association West, Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, October 2004.

· Central Bank of El Salvador, Monthly Technical Conference, El Salvador, August 2004.

· Western Economics Association International, Annual Conference, Vancouver, July 2004.

·  La Sierra University School of Education, First Summer Conference, CA, July 2004

·  Humane Studies Research Colloquium, Institute for Humane Studies, Washington DC. May 2004

HONORS

·  Datatel Scholars Foundation scholarship. May, 2004.

·  Haynes Foundation Grant for my Ph.D. dissertation in Trade Policy and Growth. May 2003.

·  Fulbright Fellowship to study Ph.D. in Economics. May 2000.

·  ITAM Fellowship to study at Brandeis University. September 1997.

·  FFEPADE Fellowship to study the Master in Economics in Mexico. January 1996.