Drs. Blanco and Prieger Awarded Research Grant to Study "Export Success and Failure: Comparisons- Africa and Latin America"

Dr. Luisa Blanco, associate professor of public policy; Dr. James Prieger, professor of public policy; and Dr. Michael Olabisi, assistant professor at the Graziadio School of Business and Management, were awarded a research grant from the Pepperdine University Office of the Provost for their cross-school collaborative research on "Export Success and Failure:  Comparisons- Africa and Latin America." Blanco, Prieger, and Olabisi recognize that successful export ventures create and maintain jobs, but in many developing economies, most export ventures end in failure. They will investigate what causes such export failure and what policies can address this business issues. They will focus on Africa and Latin America, as both regions are highly dependent on exports and have current interest on developing effective industrial policy to promote the export sector. The research will begin in August 2016 and commence September 2017. Their research looks to provide business perspectives on the economics of export success, inform policy on sustaining and growing exports, as well as strengthen research ties between the Graziadio School of Business and Management and School of Public Policy faculty and students.