Faculty Expert
Michael Toma
Professor
- Statesboro GA UNITED STATES
- Parker College of Business
Professor Toma researches regional economics and public choice
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Biography
Michael Toma is the Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Economics in the Parker College of Business at Georgia Southern University (GSU) in Savannah. He earned a Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia and specializes in regional economics and macroeconomics. He has twenty-eight years of experience studying the economy of the Savannah metro region and southeastern Georgia, and has published 41 manuscripts in peer reviewed scholarly academic journals. He currently is a member of the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers for the state of Georgia.
Areas of Expertise
Accomplishments
Governor's Council of Economic Advisors
2024-present
Research Fellow, Academy of Economics and Finance
2026
Fuller E. Callaway Professorial Chair, University System of Georgia,
2012 - Present
President-Elect and Program Chair, Academy of Economics and Finance
2017
Armstrong Distinguished Faculty Service to the Academic Discipline
2017
Service Fellow, Academy of Economics and Finance
2016
President, Academy of Economics and Finance
2018
Education
George Mason University
Ph.D
Economics
1996Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
M.A.
Economics
1989Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
B.S.
Business & Economics
1987Links
Media Appearances
Georgia Southern’s Economic Monitor: Savannah metro economy cools first half 2025
Savannah Business Journal
2025-10-10
“Given the volatility on the forecasting index and generally weaker regional economic conditions in the first half of the year, growth in the Savannah metro economy is expected to remain below its long-term trend through 2025,” Toma said. “Elevated uncertainty in the U.S. economy and slowly emerging tariff-related price increases will be headwinds for national and regional economic growth through the remainder of the year.”
Georgia economy expected to slow in 2025, but remain stronger than nation overall
Georgia Public Broadcasting
2025-01-10
"While the U.S. economy may be shedding manufacturing jobs, that's not happening here — it's not happening here at all," Toma said, referring to continued development around Hyundai's electric vehicle factory in Bryan County. "This will be fun to watch and see."
Tariffs impact coastal industries and Georgia's ports
11ALIVE.com
2025-06-05
"Effectively your importers, people who were dependent on an overseas supply chain, were rushing to get as much of their product into the U.S. before the tariffs were levied on it," said Toma.
Georgia Southern reports Savannah region unemployment rate falls to 2.9% in 2024 Q4
Savannah Now
2025-05-04
Declines of 200 workers in the business and professional services sector. GSU Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Economics Michael Toma said "a third of this sector is temporary employment agencies which by itself is down 250 workers." He said another third would be business-to-business (B2B) services such as payroll, accounting, and human resources, which can often be outsourced.
Articles
The Minor League Experience: What Drives Attendance At South Atlantic League Baseball Games?
ResearchGateRodney J. Paul; Michael Toma; Andrew P. Weinbach
2009-01-01
An examination of the determinants of minor league baseball attendance in the South Atlantic League is performed through regression analysis. Potential determinants included in the regression model include demographic variables, team performance variables, and dummies for various categories of promotions.
Working Hard or Hardly Working? Competition’s Effect on Real Estate Agent Effort
Taylor & FrancisJason Beck,Heather R. Bono, Michael Toma
2023-05-15
Residential real estate transaction data from Savannah, Georgia, from 2008 to 2021 was used to explore the connection between the volume of competing homes for sale at the time of listing and the effort level of the listing agent.
The impact of gunfire on residential property values
ResearchGateStephen Locke; Michael Toma; Jason Beck
2024-01-01
Hedonic studies of housing unit prices routinely attribute lower prices to perceived undesirable attributes and or amenities of the property sold. A steady stream of literature finds that criminal behaviour is negatively capitalized into housing unit prices. This study focuses on the effects of geocoded gunfire incidents on housing unit prices while controlling for other attributes and amenities at the census-block group level.
Last updated: 1/9/2024
