Bira Zhahadai

Bira Zhahadai
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Illinois Wesleyan University
Bira Zhahadai is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Illinois Wesleyan University, where their research focuses on business cycles, financial frictions, and macroeconomic policy in emerging market economies. Their work uses applied time series methods and dynamic equilibrium models to study productivity shocks, private equity, and sovereign debt markets, and has been presented at conferences including the Midwest Economics Association and the Association of Private Enterprise Education. Bira received their Ph.D. in Economics from North Carolina State University, previously served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at James Madison University, and consulted for the World Bank Group's Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance Program.
[CV(curriculum vitae)][bzhahada@iwu.edu][+1 (309) 556-3130]
2022
2023
James Madison University
2026
Chicago Boys

Lasi Zhahadai, Bryan McCannon.

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2026
Private Equity and Macroeconomy

Lasi Zhahadai, Xi Zhou, Ernesto F. Reyes.

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2023
Are Business Cycles in Emerging Market Economies Alike?

Lasi Zhahadai.

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2023
Natural Disaster Clause for Sovereign Debt in Emerging Market Economies

Lasi Zhahadai, Olivier Mahul.

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2022
Productivity Shocks, Financial Frictions, and Business Cycles in Emerging Market Economies

Lasi Zhahadai.

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2026
Intermediate Macroeconomics

Develops the IS-LM, AD-AS, and Solow growth frameworks used to analyze output, inflation, unemployment, and monetary and fiscal policy.

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2026
International Finance

Studies exchange rate determination, balance of payments, and international capital markets, with emphasis on macroeconomic policy in open economies.

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2026
Introduction to Economics

A survey introduction to microeconomic and macroeconomic principles, covering markets, prices, and the forces shaping national economies.

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2025
Money and Banking

Covers the role of money, financial intermediaries, and central banks in the macroeconomy, including how monetary policy is transmitted through the banking system.

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2024
Statistics for Business and Economics

Introduces probability, sampling, and statistical inference with applications to business and economic decision-making.

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2023
International Trade

Examines the theory and evidence behind why nations trade, and analyzes the welfare effects of tariffs, trade agreements, and globalization.

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2015
2022
Ph.D. in Economics (Field in Macroeconomics)
North Carolina State University

Dissertation: "Essays on Business Cycles in Emerging Market Economies."

2015
2017
M.A. in Economics
North Carolina State University

Coursework and research in macroeconomics and applied time series methods.

2009
2013
B.S. in Economics
Northeastern University

Undergraduate studies in economics, Boston, Massachusetts.