Mailing Address:
University of Chicago: Department of Economics 1126 East 59th Street Chicago, IL 60637 |
Contact Information
Email: pieters.econ@gmail Twitter: @ProfPieters Office: 428 Saieh Hall Last Updated: August 14, 2020 |
Research Interests: Cryptoeconomics, Blockchain, International Macroeconomics
Citizenship: USA (Citizen), South Africa (Citizen), New Zealand (Permanent Resident)
Languages: English (Fluent), Afrikaans (Native)
Current Academic/Scholarly Positions
Citizenship: USA (Citizen), South Africa (Citizen), New Zealand (Permanent Resident)
Languages: English (Fluent), Afrikaans (Native)
Current Academic/Scholarly Positions
- 2019-Present: Assistant Instructional Professor, Department of Economics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- 2018-Present: Non-visiting Research Fellow, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, University of Cambridge Judge School of Business
- 2017-Present: Research Associate, Globalization and Monetary Policy Institute, FRB Dallas
- 2018-Present: Board of Directors (2 yr), International Trade and Finance Association
- August, 2018-August, 2019: Lecturer, Department of Economics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- 2017-June, 2018: Research Fellow, Centre for Blockchain Technology, University College London (UCL CBT)
- 2016: June-December: Visitor, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
- August, 2012-May, 2018: Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas
- 2009-2012: Visitor, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
- Ph.D. Economics. University of Minnesota
- M.A. Economics. University of Minnesota
- B.A. Economics, Highest Honors. University of California, Santa Cruz
- B.S. Physics. University of California, Santa Cruz
Research (descriptions)
In Progress
Published or Forthcoming
Standard Academic Journal Articles
Academic Conference or Seminar Presentations
2019: Wharton Cryptogovernance Workshop, San Francisco
2017: Liberty and the War on Cash, sponsored by Liberty Fund, San Antonio.
2015: CeMENT Mentoring for Junior Faculty at Liberal Arts, sponsored by CSWEP (Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession), New Orleans.
- N Countries, N+1 Currencies: A model of global cryptocurrency trade
- “How does Income Inequality Affect Import Prices?”
- “Crypto Curiosity and Crypto Demand: How strongly are they related?”, joint with Mia Yammine and Calvin Usiri
- “Are Cryptocurrency Markets Price Efficient? Depends on the data source”
- “Cross-Country Distribution of Power and Exposure in the Crypto-Market”
- "Central Banks and Digital Currencies", chapter for Palgrave Handbook of Alternative Finance
- Bitcoin Reveals Exchange Rate Manipulation and Detects Capital Controls, Media Coverage: The Telegraph, Finance Magnates, Bitcoin News
Published or Forthcoming
Standard Academic Journal Articles
- Financial Regulations and Price Inconsistencies across Bitcoin Markets, with Sofia Vivanco (Trinity Undergraduate Student), Information Economics and Policy, June 2017, v.39, pp. 1-14
- Taxing Blockchain Forks, joint with Mattia Landoni, Stanford Journal of Blockchain Law and Policy, forthcoming.
- 3rd Global Cryptoasset Benchmarking Study (2020), with A. Blandin, Y. Wu, T. Eisermann, A. Dek, S. Taylor, Damaris Njoki. Cambridge: University of Cambridge, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance.
- 2nd Global Cryptoasset Benchmarking Study (2019), with M. Rauchs, A. Blandin, K. Klein, M. Recanatini, and BZ. Zhang. Cambridge: University of Cambridge, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance.
- Distributed Ledger Technology Systems: A Conceptual Framework (2018), with Rauchs, M., Glidden, A., Gordon, B., Recanatini, M., Rostand, F., Vagneur, K., and Zhang, B. Z. Cambridge: University of Cambridge, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance. Media Coverage: The Telegraph, Finance Magnates, Bitcoin News
- “Blockchain Technology Disrupting Traditional Records Systems”, with Christoffer Koch, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Financial Insight, July 2017, v.6(2), pp. 1-3
- The Potential Impact of Decentralized Virtual Currency on Monetary Policy, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Globalization and Monetary Policy Institute 2016 Annual Research Report, April 2017, pp. 20-25
Academic Conference or Seminar Presentations
- 2020: ▪ American Economic Association (San Diego, discussant only) ▪ AEA Conference on Teaching Research and Economic Education (cancelled due to COVID) ▪ Southern Economics Association (Online)
- 2019: ▪ American Economic Association (Atlanta) ▪ Texas State University ▪ Lafayette College ▪
- 2018: ▪ American Economic Association (Philadelphia) ▪ De Nederlandsche Bank ▪ FRB Atlanta: Workshop on Financial Stability Implications of New Technology ▪ FinTech DC (IMF, Washington DC) ▪ Annual International Trade and Finance Association (Beijing, China) ▪ Royal Economic Society Conference (University of Sussex, UK) ▪ Western Economic Association (Vancouver, Canada) ▪
- 2017: ▪ Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas ▪ International Trade and Finance Association (Poznan University, Poland) ▪ Liberal Arts Macroeconomics Workshop (Davidson College) ▪ Midwest Macroeconomics Meeting (Spring, University of Pittsburgh) ▪ Midwest Macroeconomics Meeting (Fall, Louisiana State University) ▪ Money, Macro and Finance Conference (Kings College, London) ▪ Society for Economic Measurement (MIT) ▪ Western Economic Association (San Diego) ▪
- 2016: ▪ Eastern Economic Association (Washington D.C.) ▪ International Trade and Finance Association (Occidental College) ▪ Western Economic Association (Portland) ▪
- 2015: ▪ Eastern Economic Association (x2 papers) (New York City) ▪ Liberal Arts Macroeconomics Workshop (Union College, discussant only) ▪ Southern Economic Association (New Orleans) ▪
- 2014: ▪ Association for Public Economic Theory (University of Washington) ▪ Midwest International Economics Group (Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis) ▪ Southern Economic Association (Atlanta) (x2 papers) ▪
- 2011: ▪ 11th Annual Missouri Economics Association and Washington University's Conference (Washington University in St. Louis) ▪
- 2010: Society for Economic Dynamics (Vancouver) ▪
- 2019: Tokenomics: International Conference on Blockchain Economics, Security, and Protocol (Hosted by: Ecole Normale Supérieure) ▪ International Trade and Finance Association Annual conference (Hosted by: Università di Pisa) ▪ DEconomy Panel on Central Bank Digital Currencies
- 2018: International Banking Economics and Finance Association Cryptocurrency sessions (x2) at Western Economic Association meeting (Vancouver, Canada)
- 2019, April: Ranked #2,430 out of 325,991 authors by 12-month downloads on https://www.SSRN.com
2019, April: Ranked #173 out of 29,211 economics authors by 12-month downloads on SSRN (top 0.01%) - 2016, Fall: Awarded Junior Faculty Sabbatical Leave (Trinity University)
- 2016-Current: Posted paper is top 10 by download within subject category on SSRN (29 times across 7 papers).
- 2014: Invited and funded attendee to Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute “Developing the Next Generation of Economic Models of Climate Change”
- 2012-2015: R.R. Witt Faculty Fellowship, Trinity University
- 2010, 2011: Travel Grant, Department of Economics, University of Minnesota
- 2009: Second Place, Hardy Third Year Paper Competition for "Learning about Growth", joint with Andy Glover. Department of Economics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
- 2009: Graduate Research Partnership Program Fellowship, University of Minnesota
- 2006: Graduate School Fellowship, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2019: Wharton Cryptogovernance Workshop, San Francisco
2017: Liberty and the War on Cash, sponsored by Liberty Fund, San Antonio.
2015: CeMENT Mentoring for Junior Faculty at Liberal Arts, sponsored by CSWEP (Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession), New Orleans.
Teaching (evaluations)
Teaching And Advising Experience
Teaching-Based Presentations
2019: “Formative and Summative Assessment Strategy”, University of Chicago Center for Teaching and Learning; ▪ “Efficient Strategies for Writing Effective Exams”, University of Chicago Center for Teaching and Learning
Invited Topical Guest Speaker to Undergraduate Classes
Teaching Honors and Awards*
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Notable Supervised Undergraduate Students Research Outcomes
- University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (5 courses/year, 40-150 students, 1 TA+grader), 2018-Present
- Advising: Honors Undergraduate students (varies, undergraduate thesis)
- Advising: Terminal Economics Masters students (3-6 students, Masters-level thesis required)
- Core Courses: Principles Macroeconomics; Intermediate Microeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics (Calculus-based), Cryptoassets
- Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas (6 courses/year, 8-30 students, no TA's or graders), 2012-2018
- Advising: Economics Majors, International Economics or General concentration (4-8 students/semester)
- Advising: First Year Students (7-10 students/semester)
- Core Courses: Principles of Microeconomics; Principles of Macroeconomics (No calculus)
- Specialized Courses: International Trade; International Monetary Systems (No calculus, research paper requirement)
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (3 courses/year), 2007-2012
- Core Courses: Principles of Macroeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics
- 2010-2012: Lead Instructor (Create and maintain uniform material across 8 instructors)
- 2009-2012: Large Lecture Instructor (150-400 students, 2-9 TA’s)
- 2008-2012: Instructor (15-40 students, 0-1 TA’s)
- 2007-2008: Teaching Assistant (35 students, 3 sections/semester)
- Core Courses: Principles of Macroeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics
Teaching-Based Presentations
2019: “Formative and Summative Assessment Strategy”, University of Chicago Center for Teaching and Learning; ▪ “Efficient Strategies for Writing Effective Exams”, University of Chicago Center for Teaching and Learning
Invited Topical Guest Speaker to Undergraduate Classes
- 2020: University of Chicago, LAWS 42505: Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies ▪ University of Chicago, Econ 13000: Introduction to Money and Banking
- 2019: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Finance 490: Fintech: ▪ Pitzer College, Economics Senior Seminar ▪ University of Chicago, Econ 13000: Introduction to Money and Banking ▪ University of Chicago, Econ 23040 ▪ University of Chicago Cryptocurrencies ▪ University of Chicago MPSC 56600: Intro to Blockchain (MPSC=Masters Program in Computer Science)
- 2018: University of Chicago, Research Experience for Undergraduates (Economics Department Sessions)
Teaching Honors and Awards*
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- 2011: Walter W. Heller Outstanding Teaching Award, College of Liberal Arts
- 2010: Walter W. Heller Outstanding Teaching Award, College of Liberal Arts
- 2008-2012: Distinguished Instructor, awarded 8 times
- 2008: Distinguished Teaching Assistant
Notable Supervised Undergraduate Students Research Outcomes
- 2019: D. Gale Johnson award for honors thesis (“A Nation of Makers: Endogenous Innovation in Makerspaces” by Won Woo Kim).
- 2014: 3 x Economics Scholar Program (Presentation and Poster sessions), 1 x Southwest Social Science Association (Presentation)
University or Expertise Service
Referee for
▪ British Journal of Management ▪ Czech Science Foundation ▪ Eastern Economic Journal ▪ Economics Bulletin ▪ Economic Theory ▪ European Journal of Finance ▪ Frontiers in Blockchain Research ▪ Information Economics and Policy ▪ Journal of Economic Insight ▪ Journal of International Economics ▪ Journal of International Money and Finance ▪ Sage Open ▪ Swiss National Science Foundation ▪ Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance ▪
Media Interviews
Presentations/Panels to a general audience
University of Chicago Service (2018-Present)
Trinity University Service (2012-2018)
Other Service
2020: Research in Color, undergraduate research mentor
2019: Mentor: CSWEP Breakfast for Early Career Economists
Textbook Reviewer
Professional Organization Memberships
American Economic Association ▪ Central Bank Research Association ▪ International Banking, Economics, and Finance Association ▪ International Trade and Finance Association.
▪ British Journal of Management ▪ Czech Science Foundation ▪ Eastern Economic Journal ▪ Economics Bulletin ▪ Economic Theory ▪ European Journal of Finance ▪ Frontiers in Blockchain Research ▪ Information Economics and Policy ▪ Journal of Economic Insight ▪ Journal of International Economics ▪ Journal of International Money and Finance ▪ Sage Open ▪ Swiss National Science Foundation ▪ Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance ▪
Media Interviews
- 2020: Cointelegraph, "Happy Birthday dead Bitcoin: Crypto's first white paper turns 12" (October 2020) ▪ "The Block, “Negative interest rates have arrived in the U.S. Stablecoin issuers say they’ll maintain 1:1 parity with the dollar” (April, 2020) ▪ BBC "The Digital Human": Oops (an episode on Bitcoin Mining) (February 24) Nikkei: Digital currency collaborative research, interviews with American experts (January 22)
- 2019: Breaker Mag: Economists Are Missing a Trick With Crypto (April 15) ▪ The Block: Mad Crypto: Hypothesizing bitcoin in a downcycle (August 7) ▪ CoinDesk: What is a Cryptocurrency? We Need Clearer Definitions (December 31)
- 2018: Texas Public Radio (TPR) "The Source" (panel member on a call-in show): "Cash, Credit, Cryptocurrency: How Do You Choose To Pay?" (January 2) ▪ Scholars' Circle Radio Show: "Cryptocurrency, Insights from Scholars" (April 15) ▪ WBEZ Chicago - Worldview: "What is Blockchain Technology and Why Should We Care?" (July 30)
- 2017: National Public Radio (NPR) Marketplace: "Why pay a ransom in bitcoin?" (May 15) ▪ NPR Marketplace Tech: "The rise of cryptocurrencies" (June 22) ▪ The Street: "How Fidelity Is Normalizing Bitcoin" (August 10) ▪ Experian: "What is Bitcoin and should you buy it?" (September 12)
- 2014: Trinity Alumni Magazine: "Bitcoin: Should You or Shouldn't You?"
Presentations/Panels to a general audience
- 2020: ▪ Chicago Financial Exchange (online)
- 2019: DEconomy (Seoul, South Korea) ▪ Chicago University Blockchain Symposium (Northwestern University)
- 2018: National Association for Business Economics (NABE)-Dallas Chapter ▪ Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Education Sessions at Geekdom ▪ CCAF Launch of Global Cryptoasset Reports (CCAF, hosted by CME Group) ▪ San Antonio A&M Club ▪ Research Experience for Undergraduates (U Chicago Economics)
- 2017: San Antonio Business and Economics Society Luncheon Speaker
- 2015: Faculty Research Presentation for Delta Sigma Pi Fraternity (Trinity University)
University of Chicago Service (2018-Present)
- 2019-2020: ▪ Committee Member: Macroeconomics Curriculum Review ▪ Contributor: Online-teaching methods and materials documents for UChicago Economics department ▪ Faculty Advisor: Undergraduate Women in Economics RSO ▪ Examiner: Undergraduate Economics Placement Exam ▪ Feedback: Mock Presentation of UChicago Fed Challenge Team ▪ Feedback: MAPSS MA Thesis proposal presentations ▪ Interviewer, on-campus: Economics Lecturer, Rank 3 (4 candidates) ▪ Judge: Oeconomica Metrics Game (cancelled) ▪ Letters of Recommendation, (13 students, some with multiple letters) ▪ Organizer: Created and implemented a method for all department TA and grader hiring ▪ Presenter: Fall Family Weekend: Model Class “Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain”▪ Post-address colloquium: AIMS of Education ▪ Reviewer: MAPSS-Econ applications (23 applicants) ▪ Thesis 2nd Reader: MAPSS Econ MA Thesis (5 papers) ▪ Training: How to use Gradescope for online assignments
- 2018-2019: ▪ Examiner: Undergraduate Economics Placement Exam ▪ Feedback: Mock Presentation of UChicago Fed Challenge Team ▪ Feedback: MAPSS MA Thesis proposal presentations ▪ Interviewer, first round: Lecturer Recruitment (Economics Dept.) ▪ Interviewer, on-campus round: Lecturer Recruitment (Economics Dept.) ▪ Judge: Oeconomica Metrics Game (first round) ▪ Letters of Recommendation, (3 students, some with multiple letters) ▪ Organizer: Summer Teaching Schedule ▪ Reviewer: MAPSS-Econ applications (36 applicants) ▪ Thesis 2nd Reader: MAPSS Econ MA Thesis (5 papers)
Trinity University Service (2012-2018)
- 2015-2017: Founder and Organizer of Trinity University Junior Faculty Research Group
- 2015: Junior Faculty Recruitment (Economics Dept.)
- 2013-2018: Member, Trinity University Lecturers & Visiting Scholars Committee
- 2012-2018: Department Representative for various events
Other Service
2020: Research in Color, undergraduate research mentor
2019: Mentor: CSWEP Breakfast for Early Career Economists
Textbook Reviewer
- Sachs, Jeffery and Gordon McCord. 2009 Principles of Economics and Global Sustainable Development. Addison-Wesley: Boston (Prospectus Review)
- Cowen, Tyler and Alex Tabarrok, 2009. Modern Principles of Economics. Worth Publishers: New York
- Williamson, Stephen, 2009. Macroeconomics, 3rd Edition. Addison-Wesley: Boston (Pre-revision review)
Professional Organization Memberships
American Economic Association ▪ Central Bank Research Association ▪ International Banking, Economics, and Finance Association ▪ International Trade and Finance Association.