Victor V. Claar, Ph.D.
Expert in economics and ethics | Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, FL, UNITED STATES
Victor Claar is a serious economist who thinks about the individual human beings behind market transactions.
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Biography
Victor V. Claar is an associate professor of economics at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. Claar is also an affiliate scholar of the Acton Institute, as well as a member of the Foundation for Economic Education’s Faculty Network. He is a Fulbright Scholar, having spent a year teaching economics to graduate students in the former Soviet republic of Armenia.
Claar's scholarship journey has taken him to places as diverse as China, Poland, Lithuania, Turkey, Armenia, Russia and Singapore — which gives him a unique perspective on the individuals behind the economic numbers. He is also the author of multiple books that deal with humane and ethical questions in economics. While you may have heard that economics was once dubbed the “dismal science,” Claar’s work demonstrates that this field is quite the opposite, especially when it does what Claar does: combine sobering analysis and Christian principles to offer a vision of hope.
Areas of Expertise (15)
Financial Literacy
Tariffs
Free Enterprise
Business Cycles
Inflation
Economy
Economics
Economics and Ethics
Fairtrade Coffee
Trade Policy
Macroeconomics
Employment
Economic Policy
Minimum Wage
Trade Wars
Accomplishments (1)
Fulbright Scholar
Claar spent a year teaching economics to graduate students in Armenia.
Education (3)
West Virginia University: Ph.D., Economics 2000
West Virginia University: M.A., Economics 1995
Houghton College: B.A., Business Administration 1987
Affiliations (7)
- Acton Institute : Affiliate Scholar
- Foundation for Economic Education's Faculty Network : Member
- American Economic Association : Member
- Southern Economic Association : Life Member
- Association of Christian Economists : Member
- Mont Pelerin Society : Member
- Philadelphia Society : Member
Links (2)
Selected Media Appearances (59)
Americans spending nearly $400 more, despite inflation dip
ABC Action News tv
2023-01-16
Victor Claar discusses inflation and high prices at the grocery store.
Egg-spensive grocery bill? Food inflation taking a bite out of your wallet
News 4 Jax tv
2023-01-16
Victor Claar discusses inflation and the price of eggs.
A discussion about holiday shopping trends
Spectrum News tv
2022-12-18
Victor Claar discusses how rising prices could impact holiday shopping.
Florida wages see growth despite inflation, ADP says
WTSP tv
2022-11-16
Victor Claar discusses inflation and the Florida economy.
Economist says gas tax holiday end likely won't lead to overnight spike
ABC Action News tv
2022-10-31
Victor Claar talks about the gas tax holiday in Florida.
Guest opinion: The economic devastation of Ian doesn't have a silver lining
News-Press print
2022-10-12
Victor Claar is the author if this article.
Interest rate hikes leading to car dealership sticker shock for some
ABC Action News tv
2022-09-21
Victor Claar discusses the federal interest rate hike.
Side hustle jobs on the rise with potential big money earnings
NBC2 tv
2022-09-13
Victor Claar discusses side jobs and their impact on the economy.
OPEC scales back oil production, not projected to raise gas prices
OPEC scales back oil production, not projected to raise gas prices tv
2022-09-06
Victor Claar discusses falling gas prices.
Biden, Walsh hail hiring gains as employers add 315,000 jobs in August
Spectrum News NY1 tv
2022-09-02
Victor Claar discusses the unemployment rate and how it impacts the GDP.
What can loan forgiveness mean for your credit score?
Fox 4 tv
2022-08-29
Victor Claar discusses how President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan could impact credit scores.
Jerome Powell Signals Another Interest Rate Hike Coming to Fight Inflation
Jerome Powell Signals Another Interest Rate Hike Coming to Fight Inflation tv
2022-08-26
Victor Claar discusses rising interest rates.
Economics professor breaks down Biden administration's student loan debt plan
Economics professor breaks down Biden administration's student loan debt plan tv
2022-08-25
Victor Claar explains the Biden student loan debt plan.
How to prepare for the restart of federal student loan repayment on Sept. 1
How to prepare for the restart of federal student loan repayment on Sept. 1 tv
2022-08-20
Victor Claar explains how to plan for the restart of federal student loan payments.
New abortion battleground: Big business' push for abortion travel benefits irks conservatives
Herald and News print
2022-06-29
Victor Claar is quoted in this story.
Economist says proposed gas tax holiday could have negative long-term impact
ABC Action News tv
2022-06-22
Victor Claar predicts how much the average Floridian would save with a holiday on gas taxes.
Florida breast milk bank sees surge in donations as White House addresses baby formula crisis
WPBF tv
2022-05-17
Victor Claar proposes a relaxed import plan for breast milk.
Baby formula shortage leaves Tampa Bay area shelves empty
WTSP tv
2022-05-13
Victor Claar discusses the baby formula shortage.
Gas prices continue to rise, when will it end?
WTSP tv
2022-05-13
Victor Claar discusses the rise in gas prices.
Tax free gas saves Florida drivers money for month of October
NBC2 tv
2022-05-13
Victor Claar discusses how gas will be tax-free in the month of October.
Rising inflation is impacting & changing consumers’ spending habits
ABC7 tv
2022-05-11
Victor Claar discusses how rising inflation rates are impacting consumer spending habits.
Experts warn inflation and shipping delays could hamper hurricane preps
WTSP tv
2022-05-04
Victor Claar discusses supply chain disruptions and hurricane season.
Historic advancements in home labor: Generational perspective on the growth of opportunity
Gulfshore Business magazine print
2022-05-01
Victor Claar is the author of this article.
Special session to address Florida’s intensifying insurance crisis
NBC2 tv
2022-04-12
Victor Claar discusses rising home insurance rates.
Customers receive letters stating their home insurance is canceled
NBC2 tv
2022-03-16
Victor Claar discusses roofing scams that are causing insurers to go under and rates to skyrocket.
Guest opinion: It may feel like the 1970s, but let’s not bring back 1970s economic policies
News-Press print
2022-03-16
Victor Claar is the author of this article.
Interest in electric vehicles grows as gas prices continue to rise
ABC7 tv
2022-03-14
Victor Claar talks about a shift in consumer spending.
Home insurance rates continue to rise across Florida
NBC2 tv
2022-03-14
Victor Claar discusses surging home insurance rates.
Drivers rushing to the pumps could backfire, economists say
NBC2 tv
2022-03-11
Victor Claar talks about rising gas prices.
Florida drivers scramble over high gas prices: what experts say you can do
Fox 4
2022-03-08
Victor Claar discusses surging gas prices.
Supply chain issues continue to drive up prices
Fox 4 tv
2022-02-16
Victor Claar discusses how supply chain issues are driving up prices.
To will the good: Let economics make you more loving
Gulfshore Business print
2022-02-01
Victor Claar is the author of this article.
Tips on saving money at the grocery store as inflation continues to rise
NBC2 tv
2022-02-11
Victor Claar offers tips to save on groceries as prices continue to rise.
Here's what will be more expensive in 2022
WTSP tv
2021-12-31
Victor Claar explains why items will be more expensive in 2022.
Experts say holiday travel, gatherings still safe despite rise in cases
ABC Action News tv
2021-12-17
Victor Claar discusses the Omicron variant and its impact on holiday travel.
Why did the Tampa metro area see the largest jump in inflation?
WTSP tv
2021-12-15
Victor Claar discusses an increase in inflation.
‘Unretiring:’ Why retirees are rushing back to the workforce
ABC7
2021-12-15
Victor Claar discusses why retirees may be reentering the workforce.
Local fishing charter draws attention with Bitcoin ‘ATM’
NBC2 tv
2021-12-03
Victor Claar discusses bitcoin as currency.
Economy may be in jeopardy ahead of US government deadlines, experts say
WTSP tv
2021-12-02
Victor Claar explains if the Omicron variant could further threaten economic recovery.
How omicron could impact the supply chain
WTSP tv
2021-11-29
Victor Claar explains how the latest COVID variant could impact the supply chain.
Experts say to shop early & avoid delays this holiday season
NBC2 tv
2021-11-12
Victor Claar discusses holiday shopping.
Online grocery delivery maintains popularity despite waning COVID-19 restrictions
NBC2 tv
2021-11-08
Victor Claar discusses online grocery shopping.
Why are items out of stock and more expensive? An economist weighs in
WTSP tv
2021-10-13
Victor Claar explains why some items are more expensive or out of stock.
Is dirty cash in your wallet spreading coronavirus?
NBC2 tv
2020-03-25
Victor Claar discusses using virtual payments to help slow the spread of coronavirus.
Panic purchasing leaves many without crucial supplies
NBC2 tv
2020-03-19
Victor Claar discusses panic purchasing at grocery stores as COVID-19 spreads.
How you can limit your food waste
NBC2 tv
2020-03-14
Victor Claar discusses ways families can save money on groceries.
Victor Claar on fair trade
Gwartney Institute's "Faith and Economics" online
2019-12-09
Victor Claar talks about his research on this podcast.
What does a fair trade logo actually mean?
The Christian Century online
2019-12-05
Victor Claar's comments from the book, "Fair Trade? Its Prospects as a Poverty Solution," are cited in this story.
FGCU students talk money with Steve Forbes
FGCU 360 online
2019-11-29
Victor Claar's students secured one of four one-on-one Skype conversations with Steve Forbes.
Victor Claar on the moral legacy of John Maynard Keynes
Acton Institute online
2019-11-14
Victor Claar discusses the Keynesian revolution.
Experimenting with the poor: The 2019 Nobel celebrates the economist as technocrat
Acton Institute online
2019-10-16
Victor Claar talks about Abhijit Banerjee (MIT), Esther Duflo (MIT) and Michael Kremer (Harvard) -- recipients of the 2019 Nobel Prize in economics -- and their field experiments on poor people to find out which policies work as expected and which don’t.
How you can receive compensation from the 2017 Equifax data hack
NBC2 tv
2019-07-26
Victor Claar encourages others to handle their own financial business.
3 Sectors Took a Nosedive in Latest Jobs Report
Fortune online
2019-06-07
Victor Claar discusses the May 2019 jobs report.
49% of Americans Under Age 35 Now Report Having a ‘Side Hustle’
Fortune online
2019-06-06
Victor Claar discusses the rise in millennial side jobs.
Ad falsely claims prescription drugs imported from Canada would be dangerous
NBC2 tv
2019-04-29
Victor Claar comments on the pharmaceutical industry and the FDA.
Bill proposes financial literacy class for high schools
ABC 7
2019-01-11
Victor Claar discusses the importance of financial literacy education for Florida students.
POINT OF VIEW: Memo to employers: do the right thing
The Palm Beach Post
2018-03-01
Victor Claar writes an opinion piece about tipping and minimum wage for tipped employees in Florida.
Airlines and price gouging? Not necessarily
The News-Press
2017-09-12
Victor Claar writes an opinion piece about airlines' pricing strategies during Hurricane Irma.
Price gougers deserve medals
The Detroit News
2017-09-07
Victor Claar discusses the dynamics behind price gouging behavior.
Selected Event Appearances (5)
Fair trade coffee...how fair is your cup of joe?
Florida Southern College's Politics, Law, and Economics Lecture Series Lakeland, Florida
2018-08-28
Automation and the Future of Work and Welfare
IMAGINE Conference Adam Smith Center, Singapore
2018-07-10
Beauty and Wonder Are All Around Us
Jubilee Professional Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2018-02-23
Fair Trade? Its Prospects as a Poverty Solution
Alex G. McKenna Lecture Latrobe, Pennsylvania
2017-09-27
Is "Fair Trade" Fair?
EconED 2016 Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2016-10-01
Selected Articles (4)
Creativity, innovation, and the historicity of entrepreneurship
Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public PolicyJordan Ballor, Victor V Claar
2019-08-30
Purpose Creativity and innovation are interrelated, and indeed often conflated, concepts. A corollary to this distinction is two different perspectives or types of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs. The purpose of this paper is to explore the distinction between creativity and innovation on the basis of their relationship to history and implications for understandings of entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a theoretical exploration of entrepreneurship understood in relation to a proper distinction between creativity and innovation. Creativity and innovation differ from the perspective of their relationship to what has already happened in history vs the radical novelty of a particular discovery or invention. Findings Creativity can be understood as what human beings do in connection with the fundamental givenness of things. Innovation, on the other hand, can be best understood as a phenomenon related to the historical progress of humankind. Innovation is what human beings discover on the basis of what has already been discovered. Entrepreneurs can be seen as those who discover something radically new and hidden in the latent possibilities of reality and creation. Or entrepreneurs can be seen as those who develop new, and even epochal, discoveries primarily on the basis of the insights and discoveries of those who have come before them in history. Originality/value This paper provides a helpful conceptual distinction between creativity and innovation, and finds compatibility in these different perspectives. A holistic and comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurship embraces both its creative and innovative aspects, its metaphysical grounding as well as its historicity.
Correspondence: Fair trade coffee
Journal of Economic PerspectivesVictor V Claar, Colleen E Haight
2015 Fair trade coffee is a cup half full, according to Raluca Dragusanu, Daniele Giovannucci, and Nathan Nunn in “The Economics of Fair Trade." We are not persuaded.
Hope for the East: Entrepreneurial attitudes of MBA students in two transition economies relative to those in the USA
International Journal of Business ExcellenceVictor V Claar, Robert Frey, Marek Szarucki, Vicki R TenHaken
2012 This paper examines whether a proactive personality instrument, designed to assess whether an individual possesses personality traits often linked to entrepreneurship, is robust to international applications. We present the instrument to three cohorts of MBA students: a group in Michigan, another in Armenia, and a third in Poland. While internationally different, the student cohorts are similar otherwise. We find no meaningful differences on students’ overall average scores; all groups appear equally suited to entrepreneurship. Therefore we find the instrument to be internationally robust. We also examine whether the form of each group’s proactive personality varies internationally. We find evidence that cultural (whether social or economic) differences lead to different kinds of high scores – i.e., an international treatment effect. An important implication is that different kinds of ‘entrepreneurial’ students might want to consider working alongside others with proactive personalities, especially if a potential partner would bring a complementary set of attributes.
Entrepreneurial attitudes of MBA students in the United States relative to the CIS: the case of Armenia
International Business & Economics ResearchVictor V Claar, Vicki R TenHaken, Robery Frey
2009 This paper compares the entrepreneurial attributes of MBA students in Armenia to those in the United States. If entrepreneurial attributes are more learned cultural behaviors and not only inherent personality factors, business students in a recently-privatized economy such as Armenia would not score as high on an entrepreneurial personality index as would business students in the US where both models of entrepreneurship and expectations of certain proactive characteristics in individuals entering the business world are widespread.
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