Laura Kalambokidis

Professor, Minnesota State Economist

218C Ruttan Hall

Department of Applied Economics

1994 Buford Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55108-6040

kalam002@umn.edu

+1 612 625 1995

Subject Areas

Economics of the Public Sector

Public Finance

Regional Economics

Education

Ph.D. Economics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1992
Fields of concentration: Public Finance, Industrial Organization
M.A. Economics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1988
B.S. Economics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 1985

Areas of Interest

Economics of Public Services, Public Finance, Regional Economics

Teaching

ApEc 5341 Public Finance
ApEc 8341 Applied Public Finance - syllabus

Research

My research focuses on the economics of the public sector, with an emphasis on tax policy. At the U.S. level, my recent research has examined income tax compliance behavior and the tax compliance costs of non-profit organizations. State level research projects have analyzed business taxes and tax incentives for economic development. Other publications describe and evaluate the public economics approach to creating public value with Extension programs.

Extension and Outreach

My Extension program focuses on the economics of the public sector and state tax policy. I developed and teach the “Building Extension’s Public Value (BEPV)” workshop to help anyone who develops, delivers, or seeks funding for Extension programs to recognize and articulate their programs’ public value. Finally, I am Minnesota's State Economist and the head of Economic Analysis at Minnesota Management and Budget. The Economic Analysis team forecasts Minnesota economic activity and tax revenue for the governor and legislature and serves as a resource for all Minnesotans on topics related to the Minnesota economy and state revenue forecasts.

Awards

Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Award for Distinguished Extension/Outreach Program: Individual, Less than Ten Years’ Experience, 2009
National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) Individual Award for Excellence in Community Development Programming, 2008

Minnesota Public Finance Notes

The Impact of Education Spending on Economic Development (PDF)
Paying for Public Services (PDF)
A Preliminary Assessment of LOCI©Software (PDF)
Funding Extension Services with User Fees (PDF)
The Impact of Tax Free Zones on Economic Development (PDF)
Using Tax Policy Principles to Guide a Proposal for a Statewide 4H Fee (PDF)

Select Publications

Kalambokidis, Laura. “Creating Public Value with Tax and Spending Policies: The View from Public Economics.” Public Administration Review 74, 4 (April 2014): 519-526.
Blumenthal, Marsha, Laura Kalambokidis, and Alex Turk. “Subsidizing Charitable Contributions with a Match Instead of a Deduction: What Happens to Donations and Compliance?” National Tax Journal 65, 1 (March 2012): 91-116.
Kalambokidis, Laura. “Spreading the Word about Extension’s Public Value.” Journal of Extension 49, 2 (April 2011). http://www.joe.org/joe/2011april/a1.php.
Hansen, Tonya J.+, and Laura Kalambokidis. “How Are Businesses Responding to Minnesota’s Tax-Free Zone Program?” Economic Development Quarterly 24 (May 2010): 180-192.
Gordon, Roger, Laura Kalambokidis, and Joel Slemrod. “Do We Now Collect Any Revenue from Taxing Capital Income?” Journal of Public Economics 88, 5 (April 2004): 981-1009.