Roger Sparks

Professor of Economics, Mills College at Northeastern University

Research Interests

applied microeconomics

strategy

environment

finance

Pharmacology (medical)

Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

Economics and Econometrics

Industrial relations

Urban Studies

Accounting

Sociology and Political Science

Development

Business and International Management

About

Roger Sparks is a Professor of Economics at Mills College, Oakland, CA. He earned his PhD in Economics from the University of California, Davis and has been at Mills College since 1989. Professor Sparks is currently director of the Master of Applied Economics program at Mills and chair of the Economics Department. He has more than 20 research papers published in economics journals, has refereed many paper submissions to professional journals, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation. Professor Sparks’ research applies game theory and the economics of information to a variety of topics, including the theory of unemployment, efficiency wages, employee stock offerings, cyclical changes in labor productivity, the determination of mortgage rates, mortgage securitization, environmental policy, utility regulation, psychiatric decision-making, the energy paradox, and the price impacts of low-carbon fuel standards. This research agenda has allowed him to incorporate into his teaching first-hand knowledge about a variety of topics and techniques of analysis, which in turn has enhanced his students’ curiosity and learning.

Publications

Credit Scoring and Mortgage Securitization: Implications for Mortgage Rates and Credit Availability

SSRN Electronic Journal / Jan 01, 2000

Heuson, A. J., Passmore, S. W., & Sparks, R. W. (2000). Credit Scoring and Mortgage Securitization: Implications for Mortgage Rates and Credit Availability. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.249287

The experience curve, option value, and the energy paradox

Energy Policy / Mar 01, 2009

Ansar, J., & Sparks, R. (2009). The experience curve, option value, and the energy paradox. Energy Policy, 37(3), 1012–1020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2008.10.037

GSEs, Mortgage Rates, and the Long-Run Effects of Mortgage Securitization

Finance and Economics Discussion Series / Dec 01, 2001

Passmore, W., Sparks, R., & Ingpen, J. (2001). GSEs, Mortgage Rates, and the Long-Run Effects of Mortgage Securitization. Finance and Economics Discussion Series, 2001(26), 1–39. https://doi.org/10.17016/feds.2001.26

A Model of Involuntary Unemployment and Wage Rigidity: Worker Incentives and the Threat of Dismissal

Journal of Labor Economics / Oct 01, 1986

Sparks, R. (1986). A Model of Involuntary Unemployment and Wage Rigidity: Worker Incentives and the Threat of Dismissal. Journal of Labor Economics, 4(4), 560–581. https://doi.org/10.1086/298110

Putting the squeeze on a market for lemons: Government-sponsored mortgage securitization

The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics / Jun 01, 1996

Passmore, W., & Sparks, R. (1996). Putting the squeeze on a market for lemons: Government-sponsored mortgage securitization. The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00174549

Real wages, productivity, and the cycle: An efficiency wage model

Journal of Macroeconomics / Jun 01, 1991

Chatrerji, M., & Sparks, R. (1991). Real wages, productivity, and the cycle: An efficiency wage model. Journal of Macroeconomics, 13(3), 495–510. https://doi.org/10.1016/0164-0704(91)90006-g

Automated Underwriting and the Profitability of Mortgage Securitization

Real Estate Economics / Jun 01, 2000

Passmore, W., & Sparks, R. W. (2000). Automated Underwriting and the Profitability of Mortgage Securitization. Real Estate Economics, 28(2), 285–305. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-6229.00802

An implicit contract approach to employee stock ownership plans

Journal of Comparative Economics / Sep 01, 1990

Kovenock, D., & Sparks, R. (1990). An implicit contract approach to employee stock ownership plans. Journal of Comparative Economics, 14(3), 425–451. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-5967(90)90060-m

The labor-managed firm under imperfect monitoring: Employment and work effort responses

Journal of Comparative Economics / Mar 01, 1990

Nantz, K., & Sparks, R. (1990). The labor-managed firm under imperfect monitoring: Employment and work effort responses. Journal of Comparative Economics, 14(1), 33–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-5967(90)90084-m

The Effect of Automated Underwriting on the Profitability of Mortgage Securitization

SSRN Electronic Journal / Jan 01, 1997

Passmore, S. W., & Sparks, R. W. (1997). The Effect of Automated Underwriting on the Profitability of Mortgage Securitization. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.36643

Credit Scoring and Mortgage Securitization: Do They Lower Mortgage Rates?

Finance and Economics Discussion Series / Oct 01, 2000

Heuson, A. J., Passmore, W., & Sparks, R. (2000). Credit Scoring and Mortgage Securitization: Do They Lower Mortgage Rates? Finance and Economics Discussion Series, 2000(44), 1–48. https://doi.org/10.17016/feds.2000.44

The Hidden Dangers of Historical Simulation

Finance and Economics Discussion Series / Jan 01, 2001

Passmore, W., Sparks, R., & Ingpen, J. (2001). The Hidden Dangers of Historical Simulation. Finance and Economics Discussion Series, 2001(27), 1–61. https://doi.org/10.17016/feds.2001.27

California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard Accelerating Transportation Electrification

Climate Change and Law Collection

California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard Accelerating Transportation Electrification. (n.d.). Climate Change and Law Collection. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004322714_cclc_2020-0094-0430

The Federal Reserve Banks' Imputed Cost of Equity Capital

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Working Paper Series / Jan 01, 2001

Green, E. J., Lopez, J. A., & Wang, Z. (2001). The Federal Reserve Banks’ Imputed Cost of Equity Capital. Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Working Paper Series, 1.000-59.000. https://doi.org/10.24148/wp2001-01

The Effect of Automated Underwriting on the Profitability of Mortgage Securitization

Finance and Economics Discussion Series / Jan 01, 1997

Passmore, W., & Sparks, R. (1997). The Effect of Automated Underwriting on the Profitability of Mortgage Securitization. Finance and Economics Discussion Series, 1997(19), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.17016/feds.1997.19

Meetings

Futures / Dec 01, 1993

Meetings. (1993). Futures, 25(10), 1113–1114. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-3287(93)90087-a

9. Real Wages and Unemployment

Economics of Worldwide Stagflation / Dec 31, 1985

9. Real Wages and Unemployment. (1985). Economics of Worldwide Stagflation, 178–197. https://doi.org/10.4159/harvard.9780674493049.c10

Aggregate Supply in INTERLINK

OECD Economics Department Working Papers / Nov 01, 1985

Aggregate Supply in INTERLINK. (1985). OECD Economics Department Working Papers. https://doi.org/10.1787/080723842221

Back Matter

Journal of Labor Economics / Jan 01, 1984

Back Matter. (1984). Journal of Labor Economics, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1086/jole.2.1.2535021

Education

University of California, Davis

Ph.D, Economics / July, 1984

Davis, California, United States of America

Experience

Purdue University

Assistant Professor / August, 1983 — June, 1988

Essex University

Visiting Professor / September, 1985 — June, 1986

University of California at Davis

Visiting Professor / September, 1988 — June, 1989

Mills College

Professor / June, 1989 — Present

Links & Social Media

Research Web Site

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