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Brandon Parsons

Brandon Parsons, PhD, MBA

Practitioner of Economics
Graziadio Business School

Biography

Dr. Parsons has over 20 years of business experience working in various industries. Brandon started working for McKenna Long & Aldridge, now Dentons. He worked on litigation, corporate, and anti-dumping cases. Subsequently, Brandon became the managing director at a division of Adecco Staffing. After his time with Adecco, he worked for Caterpillar Financial in Nashville, Tennessee.

Dr. Parsons began teaching economics in 2014 and currently teaches at the graduate and undergraduate levels at Pepperdine's Graziadio Business School. Professor Parsons teaches managerial economics, macroeconomics, and international business. Brandon's research focus includes determinants of income inequality and political instability. Dr. Parsons has published several papers on income inequality and political instability using panel data methods. Brandon received his BA from the University of Southern Indiana, his MBA from Pepperdine, and his MA from the University of Detroit Mercy. Dr. Parsons completed his Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Parsons is an avid traveler, having visited over forty countries and every continent. In addition, Brandon's hobbies include competing in Ironman triathlon events and climbing mountains.

Education

  • PhD, University of Southern Mississippi, Economics

  • MA, University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, Economics

  • MBA, Pepperdine University, Finance

  • Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society Membership, BS, University of Southern Indiana Evansville

  • Political Science/History, Alpha Chi and Golden Key National Honor Society Membership

 

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

  • Parsons, B., Pauly, R., and McKee, C. (2025). Simmering Conflicts, Major Consequences: Can Minor Conflicts Drive Military Involvement in Politics in Developing Countries? Politics and Policy.
  • Parsons, B. (2025). Unpacking Corruption: The Role of Economic Freedom in Developing Countries. Research in Economics.
  • Parsons, B., and Rabhi, A. (2025). Shifting Sands: How Exchange Rate Volatility Shapes Income Distribution in High-Income Countries. Structural Change and Economic Dynamics.
  • Rabhi, A., Soujaa, I., and Parsons, B. (2024). Do environmental taxes and renewable energy consumption play a role in climate change mitigation? International evidence from developing economies. Research in Globalization.
  • Parsons, B., and Naghshpour, S. (2025). Political Regime and Income (Re)Distribution – Panel Data Analysis in 126 Countries. Economics & Politics.
  • Parsons, B., and Naghshpour, S. (2024). Cultural Tension and Large- and Small-Scale Internal Conflicts. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies.
  • Parsons, B. (2024). The Price of Borrowing: Foreign Debt, Foreign Debt Service and Income Distribution in Developing Countries. Empirical Economic Letters.
  • Parsons, B., St. Marie, J., and Pauly, R. (2024). Quantile via Moments Panel Data Analysis: Dissecting Political Regimes and the Spectrum of Internal Conflicts. Eastern Economic Journal.
  • Rabhi, A., and Parsons, B. (2024). How is Central Bank Independence Shaping Income Inequality in Developing Countries? International Advances in Economic Research.
  • Parsons, B. (2023). The role of income inequality on internal conflict, terrorism, political violence, civil war, and civil disorders – Panel data analysis with quantile via moments and Driscoll and Kraay standard errors. International Journal of Development and Conflict.
  • Parsons, B., and Naghshpour, S. (2024). Panel Analysis of Female Labor Force Participation and Income Distribution in 136 Countries. European Economic Letters.
  • Parsons, B., and Naghshpour, S. (2023). Panel Data Analysis of Ethnic Fractionalization, Ethnic Tension, Religious Tension, and the Gini Coefficient. Journal of Economic Development.
  • Parsons, B. (2024). Political Polarization and Internal Conflict: A Cross-National Analysis Using Popular Support and Government Cohesion as Proxies. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues.
  • Parsons, B. (2023). Statutory Corporate Tax Rates and Income Distribution - Panel Data from 95 Countries Using Driscoll and Kraay Standard Errors and Quantile Via Moments. Journal of Applied Business and Economics.
  • Parsons, B., and Naghshpour, S. (2023). Panel data analysis of internal conflict and income inequality. European Journal of Government and Economics.
  • Parsons, B. (2022). Panel Data Analysis of the Human Capital Index and Income Inequality. Journal of Applied Economics and International Development.
  • Parsons, B. and Naghshpour, S. (2022). Panel Data Analysis on Income Tax Progressivity and Gini Coefficient. Journal of Applied Business and Economics.

Academic Conference Presentations

  • Parsons, B. "From Wages to Conflict: Does a Decrease in the Real Wage Increase Internal Conflict in Developing Countries?" Midwest Economics Association Conference (MEA). (March 22, 2025)
  • Parsons, B. (Presenter & Author), Naghshpour, S. (Author Only), "There is no Free Lunch: What is the Cost of Economic Freedom?" Eastern Economic Association Conference (EEA). (February 22, 2025)
  • Parsons, B. (Presenter & Author), Naghshpour, S. (Author Only), "Political Regime and Income (Re)Distribution – Panel Data Analysis in 126 Countries." Midwest Economics Association (MEA). (March 22, 2024)
  • Parsons, B. (Presenter & Author), Naghshpour, S. (Author Only), "Quantile via Moments Panel Data Analysis: Dissecting Political Regimes and the Spectrum of Internal Conflicts." Midwest Economics Association (MEA). (March 23, 2024)
  • Parsons, B. (Presenter & Author), Naghshpour, S. (Author Only), "Regime democracy and income inequality–do democracies improve income distribution?" International Atlantic Economics Society. (October 7, 2023)
  • Parsons, B. (Presenter & Author), "Corporate tax rate and the Gini coefficient: A cross-national study." Applied Business and Entrepreneurship Association International Conference. (November 23, 2022)
  • Parsons, B. (Presenter & Author), Naghshpour, S. (Author Only), "Ethnic Fractionalization, Ethnic Tension, Religious Tension and the Gini Coefficient." National Business and Economics Society Conference. (March 3, 2022)
  • Parsons, B. (Presenter & Author), Naghshpour, S. (Author Only), "Panel Data Analysis on Income Tax and Gini Coefficient." International Atlantic Economics Society. (October 9, 2021)

Working Papers

  • Panel Data Analysis of Labor Union Participation Rate and Income Inequality in OECD Countries.
  • Panel Data Analysis of the Minimum Wage and Income Inequality in OECD Countries.
  • Are governments led by ethnic minorities more prone to conflict?
  • Are Eastern Bloc countries better off after the Washington Consensus? – A comparison
  • Do smaller-scale conflicts elicit Military in Politics?
  • Does corruption cause income inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa?
  • Does debt servicing affect income inequality in developing countries?
  • Does economic structure (e.g., percentage of an economy in agriculture, manufacturing, or service) affect income inequality?
  • Pre-distribution, redistribution, and internal conflict.
  • Does the rural/urban divide explain government instability?
  • Are there cases where authoritarian regimes help promote economic growth more than democratic regimes? 
  • 2025 Provost Grand Award
  • 2025 Research Excellence Award
  • 2023 Provost Grant Award
  • ABC 7 News - Commentary on Tentative Agreement on Debt Ceiling. May 27, 2023.