Faculty Profile

Steve Erfle

Professor of International Business and Management (1989)

Contact Information

erfle@dickinson.edu

Althouse Hall Room 102
717-245-1635
http://blogs.dickinson.edu/playing-with-polygons/

Bio

Is author of Electronic String Art: Rhythmic Mathematics, Taylor and Francis, 2024, Intermediate Microeconomics: An Interactive Approach, Textbook Media Press, 2016, and is coauthor of Managerial Economics: Economic Tools for Today’s Decision Makers, 7th edition, Pearson, 2013 with Paul Keat and Philip Young. He is interested in interdisciplinary research and teaching pedagogy. He has consulted for Seagram Classics Wine Company, BlueSky Investment Management, Forum on Education Abroad, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health and his published research ranges from economics and economic pedagogy to political geography and communications theory to physical education and public health. The link above takes you to his current project, Playing with Polygons, which formed the basis for the Electronic String Art book.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

  • B.S., University of California at Davis, 1977
  • B.A., 1977
  • M.A., Harvard University, 1981
  • Ph.D., 1983

2023-2024 Academic Year

Fall 2023

FYSM 100 First-Year Seminar
The First-Year Seminar (FYS) introduces students to Dickinson as a "community of inquiry" by developing habits of mind essential to liberal learning. Through the study of a compelling issue or broad topic chosen by their faculty member, students will: - Critically analyze information and ideas - Examine issues from multiple perspectives - Discuss, debate and defend ideas, including one's own views, with clarity and reason - Develop discernment, facility and ethical responsibility in using information, and - Create clear academic writing The small group seminar format of this course promotes discussion and interaction among students and their professor. In addition, the professor serves as students' initial academic advisor. This course does not duplicate in content any other course in the curriculum and may not be used to fulfill any other graduation requirement.

INBM 220 Managerial Decision Making
Applies the principles and methods of economics to analyze problems faced by managers in a business or other type of organization. This course emphasizes how managers can (and should) use economic tools to further the objectives of the organization. Emphasis is on application of theory to actual business decisions. Many applications will require students to build economic models using spreadsheets, just as they will be required to do in a business setting. Prerequisite: ECON 111 and INBM 110.

INBM 220 Managerial Decision Making
Students must register for one of the two labs offered with this course - INBM 220-LA Friday 9:30-10:20 or INBM 220-LB Friday 10:30-11:20.

ECON 500 Independent Study

Spring 2024

INBM 220 Managerial Decision Making
Applies the principles and methods of economics to analyze problems faced by managers in a business or other type of organization. This course emphasizes how managers can (and should) use economic tools to further the objectives of the organization. Emphasis is on application of theory to actual business decisions. Many applications will require students to build economic models using spreadsheets, just as they will be required to do in a business setting. Prerequisite: ECON 111 and INBM 110.

INBM 300 Applied Empirical Analysis
Cross-listed with ECON 314-02. This course provides students with the opportunity to undertake their own empirical investigation on topics of their choice. Students are welcome to use the information that I have gathered but they are also encouraged to obtain and analyze data of their choosing, subject to professor approval. Students have access to start of year and end of year physical activity and stature measures for more than 10,000 middle school students, two thirds of whom had daily PE, as well as school district level data for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and APFT data from West Point Cadets. Various statistical software packages are used. The class culminates in presenting your own findings in a poster presentation that is open to the public.

ECON 314 Applied Empirical Analysis
Cross-listed with INBM 300-01. This course provides students with the opportunity to undertake their own empirical investigation on topics of their choice. Students are welcome to use the information that I have gathered but they are also encouraged to obtain and analyze data of their choosing, subject to professor approval. Students have access to start of year and end of year physical activity and stature measures for more than 10,000 middle school students, two thirds of whom had daily PE, as well as school district level data for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and APFT data from West Point Cadets. Various statistical software packages are used. The class culminates in presenting your own findings in a poster presentation that is open to the public.