I teach because I believe that the challenges facing my students and society require individuals who think critically and communicate effectively. My primary teaching interests are principles of microeconomics, development economics, and applied econometrics.
University of Maine, Orono
I teach a variety of graduate and undergraduate courses in the School of Economics at the University of Maine (Orono). My courses place a strong emphasis on understanding and applying principles of economics to real-world problems. Across all of my courses, I try to stress the common themes of empirical literacy, sound argumentation, and effective communication.
ECO 530 – Introduction to Econometrics (Graduate)
Semesters (students)
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- Fall 2023 (in person, 21 students), Fall 2022 (in person, 15), Fall 2021 (hyflex, 15), Fall 2020 (remote, 17), Fall 2019 (8)
Selected Student Comments
“The combination of applied examples/exercises helped me understand the theory. I often found myself rewatching old lectures and reading through the topic summaries provided on Brightspace as I completed exercises to firm up my understanding of the theory. I feel that I am able to apply my knowledge gained from this course to my own research questions in a different field. Additionally, the availability of office hours made it possible for me to get timely feedback and help while completing assignments. I came to this course from a non–economics background, but I feel empowered to think about my research in new ways after taking this course.”
“As a professor, I had always believed that the most effective way to assess students’ understanding and knowledge of a subject was through conventional exams. However, Jonathan, your approach has profoundly shifted my perspective on what constitutes an adequate assessment. The experience of taking this exam was genuinely enlightening. I was impressed by the intelligent questions and the thoughtful method to evaluate our knowledge. It encouraged deep reflection on our concepts and understanding of the subject matter. Your approach was exemplary. This has been one of the most impactful and valuable classes I have ever participated in. Thank you.”
“There are two things I’ll say here: 1) Topics from econometrics (and statistics more generally) are often used. However, at times, the details and underlying concepts can be papered over, especially in less academically rigorous environments. This class takes the time to explore this subtlety, and I found a lot of value in that. 2) For some majors, it can be hard to see the path to becoming a professional in your field. There are only two courses I have taken which have made me feel like an economist, this is one of them.”
“It was evident that Jonathan cared deeply for the quality of his teaching and the learning of his students. He frequently brought in outside sources to show real–life applications of topics covered in class. I would recommend his course to others or take another course taught by him.”
“Jonathan is the best economics instructor I have had at the University of Maine. His teaching style is very thoughtful and clear, and he is a very accessible and caring instructor. He pays attention to his students and their needs and interests. His method of teaching, which combines clear and concise explanations of theory with interesting examples of research and applications, made the class both useful and engaging for me. His perspectives on economics and social issues are a breath of fresh air, and he does an excellent job of discussing issues of gender equity, racial diversity, and class divides that are especially important to our work in economics, which many other professors are unwilling or unable to acknowledge. I absolutely loved this class and loved having him as a professor.”
“I can’t stress enough what a great classroom environment Jonathan makes. You can feel that he genuinely respects us and wants us to learn. He definitely pushes you and you have to work hard but he’s always available to help.”
ECO 480 -Mathematical Economics (Undergraduate)
Semesters (students)
- Fall 2023 (In Person, 12 students), Fall 2022 (In person, 24), Fall 2021 (16, hyflex), Spring 2020 (9),
Selected Student Comments
“This was my favorite class I’ve taken at UMaine. I found it a nice mix of engaging and challenging, and it brought my two interests of math and economics together. Professor Malacarne created an excellent environment that really fostered my interests and allowed me to grow as a economist.”
“Professor Malacarne is an excellent teacher and cares about students and their success within the department. He has a lot of patience and empathy when dealing with students who are struggling which makes it easier to engage with difficult material and learn the concepts required.”
“I struggled with math and some of the concepts in the class, but the professor was always willing to help any students which asked for additional support. Professor Malacarne has been the most supportive and enthusiastic professor I have had at the University of Maine”
“This course went far deeper into economics than any other course I have taken at this university. It was great to get a more complete and mathematical perspective on some previously covered economic topics.”
“This was a challenging course, being able to confidently meet with Professor Malacarne to work on the weekly assignments was beyond valuable. I never felt horribly lost for long as the time he was willing to devote to one on one help is what I would say contributed most to my success in this course.”
ECO 363 -Game Theory (Undergraduate)
Semesters (students)
- Spring 2023 (in person, 38), Spring 2020 (40, hyflex),
Selected Student Comments
“I really enjoyed the variety with which Professor Malacarne engaged the class. He used different games, activities, videos, slideshows, stories, and lecture all to help illustrate points. This made the class much easier to understand than it otherwise would’ve been, and I never felt bored or disengaged with the material.”
“Fantastic class– I was able to learn a lot about interesting topics without being unnecessarily challenged because of the clear and concise way information was presented in class. I felt supported by the professor to learn and do well over the semester.”
“This course was very different and extremely refreshing when compared to the list of econ classes I have taken here at UMaine. Professor Malacarne provided entertaining and interesting material, which I can only hope others can have the pleasure of enjoying in the future.”
“Prof. Malacarne is a good educator. He keeps his classes interesting while on topic. He allows classroom discussion to diverge from the topic when it benefits student creativity within Game Theory. He encourages his students in and out of the classroom. In short, UMaine is a better school with Prof. Malacarne on campus.”
ECO 370 -The Maine Farm and Food Economy (Undergraduate)
Semesters (students)
- Fall 2021 (18, hyflex)
Selected Student Comments
“The course was very well–structured, with professionals from their respective fields being invited to speak to us every week – it has been very interactive and enjoyable!”
“Professor Malacarne did a great job highlighting how interesting and complex the farm and food economy is. The content was thought provoking and inspiring.”
“The format of the course created an excellent learning environment where I felt I was introduced to experts in individual fields rather than a single professor with broad but limited knowledge of the industries covered. I felt there was an interesting variety of ways to interact with speakers and classmates that furthered my learning in ways I hadn’t expected.”
University of California, Davis
While at the University of California, Davis, I have had the opportunity to improve and expand my teaching experience. I served as a teaching assistant for a variety of courses and a diverse student body. I also worked as a tutor, specializing in microeconomic theory, econometrics, and development economics.
Additionally, to improve my teaching, I completed a five-part Foundations in Teaching workshop series put on by the University of California, Davis Center for Educational Excellence. The workshop series offered practical, evidence based educational methods for creating engaging, inclusive classrooms and effectively assessing learning outcomes.
- ARE 115A, Development Economics, Stephen Boucher, Winter 2015, Spring 2015
- ARE 100A, Intermediate Microeconomics, Jacob Marder, Fall 2014
- SAS 120, Global Poverty: Critical Thinking and Taking Action, Lovell Jarvis, Winter 2013
The Peace Corp
Instructor/Instructor Trainer
As a Peace Corps Volunteer in northern Nicaragua, I worked in four rural high schools for two years. During this time, I trained local instructors in a new entrepreneurship curriculum and co-taught classes to students in their final two years of high school. Our 18-month entrepreneurship course helped students develop confidence in their own ideas and identify opportunities for their lives after high school. In the final twelve months of the course, students launched their own small businesses in order to participate in a nation-wide business plan competition.
Jonathan G. Malacarne 