Todd Steen teaches Labor Economics and Principles of Macroeconomics. Courses he has taught at other times include Econometrics, Christianity and the Marketplace, Internships in Vocation, first-year seminars, and Economic Themes and Topics. He has been a member of the Hope College faculty since 1988.

His favorite part of teaching at Hope College is answering students’ questions and discussing the issues of vocation and calling. He has worked on several research projects with students in his time at Hope.

Dr. Steen is a member of the American Economic Association, the Association of Christian Economists and the Christian Business Faculty Association. Since 1995 he has served as the managing editor of the Christian Scholar’s Review.

Areas of Expertise

• Labor economics
• Christian reflection on economics and business
• Retirement savings and personal finance
• The economics of religion

Education

• Ph.D., economics, Harvard University, 1992
• M.A., economics, Harvard University, 1987
• B.A., economics, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1984
• B.S., geography, Pennsylvania State University, 1981

Selected Honors and Awards

• Best Academic Paper Award, Christian Business Faculty Association, 2018
• Best Practice Award, Christian Business Faculty Association, 2012
• Named to endowed chair as Granger Professor of Economics, 2009
• Award of Merit, Associated Church Press, 1996
• Hope Outstanding Professor Educator (HOPE) Award, Hope College, 1993

Selected Publications

• “Does Current Economic Theory Impose a Materialistic View of Work?” with S. McMullen, Journal of Markets & Morality, 2017
• “Church Attendance, Faith and the Allocation of Time: Evidence from Australia,” with M. Kortt and E. Sinnewe, International Journal of Social Economics, 2017
• “Does Disparity in Self-Employment Rates Imply Discrimination? An Empirical Investigation,” with J. Lunn, Journal of Private Enterprise, 2016
• “The Argument for Teaching Financial Literacy at Higher-Education Institutions,” with S. Geddes, Michigan Academician, 2016
• “Religion and Savings: Evidence from Germany,” with E. Sinnewe and M. Kortt, International Journal of Social Economics, 2014
• “Helping Employees Save for Retirement: What is the Responsibility of Higher-Education Institutions?” with S. Geddes, Christian Business Academy Review, 2014
• “Christian Hope and the Dismal Science,” with R. Klay, Journal of Markets and Morality, 2013

Outside the College

Dr. Steen served on the Board of Trustees of Holland Christian Schools for a total of 16 years, including four years as its president from 2006 to 2010. He loves to read, hike in the mountains with his wife, travel to Canada, play with his grandchildren, and golf. He has two holes in one.