Dr. Charles L. Baum

Professor

Dr. Charles L. Baum
615-898-2527
Room N310, Business & Aerospace Building (BAS)
MTSU Box 27, Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Degree Information

  • PHD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1999)
  • BA, Wake Forest University (1995)

Areas of Expertise

Labor Economics, Employment, Wages, Earnings, Employment Benefits, Unemployment, Retirement Decisions, Worklife Expectancies, Social Security Income and Benefits, Business Valuations, Profits, Business Income, Antitrust Economics, Price-Fixing, and Predatory Pricing

Biography

I am a professor of economics at Middle Tennessee State University, where I have taught courses on labor markets, unions and collective bargaining, and microeconomic theory (including the theory of the firm and profit-maximization) since 1999. I received my Ph.D. in economics from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill earlier that year.  I earned a B.A. in economics from Wake Forest University in 1995.  From 2008 to 2014, I served as the chair of the Department of Economics and Finance.

Publications

Baum, Charles L.  (2022).  “Seven Careers in a Lifetime? An Analysis of Employee Tenure.”  Economic Inquiry, 60 (2): 543-567.

Baum, Charles L.  (2021).  “Calculating Economic Losses in 11th Circuit Employment Termination Cases.”  Florida Bar Journal, 95 (1): 46-50.

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Baum, Charles L.  (2022).  “Seven Careers in a Lifetime? An Analysis of Employee Tenure.”  Economic Inquiry, 60 (2): 543-567.

Baum, Charles L.  (2021).  “Calculating Economic Losses in 11th Circuit Employment Termination Cases.”  Florida Bar Journal, 95 (1): 46-50.

Baum, Charles L.  (2020).  “The Effects of Medical Malpractice Tort Reform on Physician Supply: An Analysis of Legislative Changes from 2009 to 2016.”  Southern Economic Journal, 87 (2): 540-575.

Baum, Charles L. (2018). “Calculating Commercial Compensatory Damages in Tennessee.” Tennessee Bar Journal, 54 (5): 19-26.

Owens, Mark F., Adam D. Rennhoff, and Charles L. Baum.  (2018).  “Consumer Demand for Charitable Purchases: Evidence from a Field Experiment on Girl Scout Cookie Sales.”  Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 152 (1): 47-63.

Baum, Charles L.  (2018).  “The Implications of Medical Malpractice Tort Reform in Missouri on Physician Labor Supply.”  Journal of the Missouri Bar, 74 (5): 246-249.

Baum, Charles L., and James D. Rodgers. (2018). “Maternal Household Services and Children.” Journal of Forensic Economics, 27 (1): 1-15.

Baum, Charles L. (2017). “The Effects of College on Weight: Examining the Freshman Fifteen Myth.” Demography, 54 (1): 311-336.

Baum, Charles L. (2017). “Collateral Source Rules in Wrongful Death, Personal Injury, and Employment Termination Cases in Tennessee.” DICTA (Knoxville Bar Association), 44 (6): 9-11.

Gaughan, Patrick A., and Charles L. Baum. (2017). “The Accuracy of the Social Security Wage and Other Economic Projections.” Journal of Legal Economics, 23 (1): 3-29.

Baum, Charles L. (2016). “Calculating Economic Losses from Wrongful Incarceration.” Tennessee Bar Journal, 52 (7): 18-23.

Baum, Charles L., and Shin-Yi Chou. (2016). “Why Has the Prevalence of Obesity Doubled.” Review of Economics of the Household, 14 (2): 251-267.

Baum, Charles L., and Christopher J. Ruhm. (2016). “The Effects of Paid Family Leave in California on Labor Market Outcomes.” Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 35 (2): 333-356.

Baum, Charles L., and Christopher J. Ruhm. (2016). “The Changing Benefits of Early Work Experience.” Southern Economic Journal, 83 (2): 343-363.

Baum, Charles L. (2016). “Calculating Economic Losses in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Cases in Tennessee.” DICTA (Knoxville Bar Association), 43 (2): 25-26.

Baum, Charles L. (2015). “Employee Tenure and Economic Losses in Wrongful Termination Cases: A Reply of Nicholas Coleman.” Journal of Forensic Economics, 26 (1): 95-97.

Bartel, Ann, Charles L. Baum, Maya Rossin-Slater, and Jane Waldfogel.  (2014).  “California’s Paid Family Leave Law: Lessons from the First Decade.”  U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy (OASP).

Baum, Charles L. (2013). “Employee Tenure and Economic Losses in Wrongful Termination Cases.” Journal of Forensic Economics, 24 (1): 41-66.

Baum, Charles L. (2012). “The Effects of Food Stamp Receipt on Weight Gained by Expectant Mothers.” Journal of Population Economics, 25 (4): 1307-1340.

Baum, Charles L., William F. Ford, and Kevin M. Zhao (2012). “Top Five Executives’ Share of Core Earnings.” Journal of Financial and Economic Practice, 12 (2): 103-115.

Owens, Mark F., and Charles L. Baum. (2012). “The Effects of Welfare Vehicle Asset Rules on Vehicle Assets.” Applied Economics, 44 (13): 1603-1619.

Baum, Charles L. (2011). “The Effects of Food Stamps on Obesity.” Southern Economic Journal, 77 (3): 623-651.

Baum, Charles L. (2009). “The Effects of Cigarette Taxes on Obesity.” Health Economics, 18 (1): 3-19.

Baum, Charles L. (2009). “The Effects of Vehicle Ownership on Employment.” Journal of Urban Economics, 66 (3): 151-163.

Baum, Charles L. and Christopher J. Ruhm. (2009). “Age, Socioeconomic Status, and Obesity Growth.” Journal of Health Economics, 28 (3): 635-648.

Owens, Mark F., and Charles L. Baum (2009). “The Effects of Federal Housing Assistance on Exiting Welfare and Becoming Employed for Welfare Recipients.” Journal of Poverty, 13 (2): 130-151.

Zhao, Kevin M, Charles L. Baum, and William F. Ford. (2009). “The CEO Share of Earnings: A New Approach to Evaluating Executive Compensation.” Business Economics, 44 (2): 120-122.

Baum, Charles L. (2007). “The Effects of Race, Ethnicity, and Age on Obesity.” Journal of Population Economics, 20 (3): 687-705.

Baum, Charles L. (2006). “The Effects of Government-Mandated Family Leave on Employer Family Leave Policies.” Contemporary Economic Policy, 24 (3): 432-445.

Baum, Charles L., William F. Ford, and Jeffrey D. Hopper. (2006). “The Obese Smoker’s Wage Penalty.” Social Science Quarterly, 87 (4): 863-881.

Baum, Charles L. (2005). “The Effects of Employment while Pregnant on Health at Birth.” Economic Inquiry, 43 (2): 283-302.

Baum, Charles L. (2004). “Has Family Leave Legislation Increased Leave-Taking?” Journal of Law and Policy, 15 (1): 93-114.

Baum, Charles L. (2004). “The Long-Term Effects of Early and Recent Maternal Employment on a Child’s Academic Achievement.” Journal of Family Issues, 25 (1): 29-60.

Baum, Charles L., and William F. Ford. (2004). “The Wage Effects of Obesity: A Longitudinal Study.” Health Economics, 13 (9): 885-899.

Baum, Charles L., F. Lee Sarver, and Thomas Strickland. (2004). “EVA, MVA, and CEO Compensation: Further Evidence.” American Business Review, 22 (2): 82-87.

Baum, Charles L. (2003). “The Effects of State Maternity Leave Legislation and the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act on Employment and Wages.” Labour Economics, 10 (5): 573-596.

Baum, Charles L. (2003). “The Effects of Maternity Leave Legislation on Mothers’ Labor Supply Patterns after Childbirth.” Southern Economic Journal, 69 (4): 772-799.

Baum, Charles L. (2003). “Does Early Maternal Employment Harm Child Development? An Analysis of the Potential Benefits of Leave-Taking.” Journal of Labor Economics, 21 (2): 409-448.

Baum, Charles L. (2002). “A Dynamic Analysis of the Effect of Childcare Costs on the Work Decisions of Low-Income Mothers with Infants.” Demography, 39 (1): 139-164.

Baum, Charles L. (2002). “The Effect of Work Interruptions on Women’s Wages.” Labour, 16 (1): 1-36.

Baum, Charles L., Richard L. Hannah, and William F. Ford. (2002). “The Effect of the Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act of 2000 on Employer-Provided Pension and Medical Plans.” Benefits Quarterly, 18 (2): 65-72.

Baum, Charles L., and William F. Ford. (2001). “The Effect of ’The Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act of 2000’ on Delayed Retirement Incentives.” The Labor Law Journal, 52 (1): 3-9.

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Presentations

"Economics and Workforce Development Trends: U.S. and Tennessee Workforce Trends, Data, and Resources," University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Institute for Public Service, Center for Industrial Services, August 2022.

"The U.S. and State Economic Forecast," Oakworth Wealth Management/Oakworth Capital Bank, Nashville, TN (Bluebird Café), October 2021.

"The Economic Outlook for Tennessee and the U.S.," Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants, Brentwood, TN, August 2...

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"Economics and Workforce Development Trends: U.S. and Tennessee Workforce Trends, Data, and Resources," University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Institute for Public Service, Center for Industrial Services, August 2022.

"The U.S. and State Economic Forecast," Oakworth Wealth Management/Oakworth Capital Bank, Nashville, TN (Bluebird Café), October 2021.

"The Economic Outlook for Tennessee and the U.S.," Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants, Brentwood, TN, August 2021.

"Employee Tenure Projections for Calculating Economic Losses in Wrongful Termination Cases," American Economic Association Annual Meetings, San Diego, California, January 2020.

"Calculating Economic Losses in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Cases in Tennessee," Law Conference for Tennessee Practitioners, Nashville School of Law, Nashville, TN, November 2019.

"How to Calculate Economic Damages in Medical Malpractice Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Cases in Alabama," The 2019 Medical Malpractice Conference for Alabama Attorneys, Birmingham, AL, May 2019.

"The U.S. Economic Forecast," Tennessee Realtors Association, 2019 Excel Summit, Franklin, TN, March 2019.

"Economics 101: Where are We and Where are We Going?" Mid-South Commercial Law Institute, Nashville, TN, October 2017.

“The Economic Impacts of Wrongful Incarceration,” National Association of Forensic Economists Winter Meetings, Cancun, Mexico, 2017.

“The Accuracy of Social Security Wage Projections,” National Association of Forensic Economists Winter Meetings, Key West, FL, 2016.

“Employee Tenure and Economic Losses,” National Association of Forensic Economists Winter Meetings, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2015.

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Awards

Eagle Scout from the Boy Scouts of America.

In the Media

My research has recently been cited in the news by Bloomberg BusinessWeek, U.S. News and World Report, and the New York Times.  

A recent publication of mine on paid family leave legislation was reviewed and cited in the 2022 and 2023 Economic Reports of the U.S. President by the Council of Economic Advisers.

The Washington Center for Equitable Growth presented results from my research on female employmen...

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My research has recently been cited in the news by Bloomberg BusinessWeek, U.S. News and World Report, and the New York Times.  

A recent publication of mine on paid family leave legislation was reviewed and cited in the 2022 and 2023 Economic Reports of the U.S. President by the Council of Economic Advisers.

The Washington Center for Equitable Growth presented results from my research on female employment rates and trends before the U.S. House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth on December 8, 2021.

The U.S. Department of Labor used results from my research on state legislation providing paid parental leave from work at the 2015 White House Summit on Working Families. 

 

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Special Projects

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Courses

ECON 2410 Principles of Economics, Macroeconomics
ECON 2420 Principles of Economics, Microeconomics (on-campus and online)
ECON 2420 (Honors) Principles of Economics, Microeconomics
ECON 4420 Labor and Human Resource Economics (on-campus and online)
ECON 4510 Unions and Collective Bargaining (on-campus and online)
ECON 4650 Comparative Economic Systems (on-campus and online)
ECON 5420 Labor and Human Resource Economics (on-campus and online)
ECON 5510 Unions...

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ECON 2410 Principles of Economics, Macroeconomics
ECON 2420 Principles of Economics, Microeconomics (on-campus and online)
ECON 2420 (Honors) Principles of Economics, Microeconomics
ECON 4420 Labor and Human Resource Economics (on-campus and online)
ECON 4510 Unions and Collective Bargaining (on-campus and online)
ECON 4650 Comparative Economic Systems (on-campus and online)
ECON 5420 Labor and Human Resource Economics (on-campus and online)
ECON 5510 Unions and Collective Bargaining (on-campus and online)
ECON 6120 Microeconomics I
ECON 7120 Microeconomics II
ECON 7121 Microeconomics III
ECON 7520 Advanced Labor Economics II

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