Dr. Jorge N. Zumaeta is a distinguished economist, educator, and policy advisor with over two decades of experience in applied macroeconomics, labor economics, and socio-economic development. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Science from Tilburg University and serves as Senior Director at Florida International University. A Fulbright Scholar and NSF DITE Fellow, Dr. Zumaeta has published extensively on workforce policy, economic inequality, and social equity. His leadership extends to advisory roles with the Miami-Dade Social and Economic Development Council and the Latin Chamber of Commerce (CAMACOL). With a strong commitment to community engagement, academic excellence, and public service, he integrates research with actionable strategies that foster inclusive growth and workforce innovation.
Profile:
Orcid | Google Scholar
Education:
Dr. Jorge N. Zumaeta holds a Ph.D. in Social Science from Tilburg University in the Netherlands, reflecting a strong foundation in interdisciplinary and global perspectives on economics and development. He also earned an M.S. and a B.A. in Economics from Florida Atlantic University, USA, where he began shaping his future in applied macroeconomics and labor economics. His academic journey is grounded in both theoretical rigor and practical application, equipping him to address complex socio-economic issues worldwide.
💼 Professional Experience:
Spanning over two decades, Dr. Zumaeta’s career includes roles at Florida International University, Miami-Dade County, Florida Department of Labor, and Florida Atlantic University. He has led initiatives in economic policy, labor market analysis, workforce development, and institutional planning. His expertise has shaped policies and programs that improve employment outcomes, reduce inequality, and foster economic resilience.
Expertise & Research Interests:
Dr. Zumaeta specializes in applied macroeconomics, labor economics, and socio-economic development, with a focus on equity, workforce development, and policy analysis. He is committed to promoting liberty, self-governance, and truth through research that bridges academic insight with actionable policy outcomes. His recent work addresses disinformation in the age of AI, racial economic disparities, and workforce transformation strategies. He actively integrates classical economic principles with contemporary challenges, making his research both relevant and transformative.
Academic & Teaching Roles:
An accomplished educator and faculty administrator, Dr. Zumaeta serves as Senior Director at Florida International University (FIU), while also teaching courses in labor studies and macroeconomics. His high SPOT score of 4.7/5 reflects his exceptional teaching effectiveness. He has co-taught internationally via COIL programs, delivered economic lecture series across Latin America, and mentored students through programs such as DITE (NSF). His mission is to prepare informed, civic-minded leaders for a globalized economy.
🏆 Awards & Honors:
Dr. Zumaeta’s outstanding contributions have earned him numerous accolades. These include the NSF DITE Fellowship, the Fulbright Scholar Research Chair at the University of Alberta, FIU Top Scholar, and multiple leadership, community engagement, and teaching awards (e.g., FLAME Award, APEX Award, and several SPOT nominations). These honors reflect his impact across academia, public service, and community development.
Community Engagement & Leadership:
Dr. Zumaeta is an influential member of Miami-Dade County’s Social and Economic Development Council and a board member of CAMACOL (Latin Chamber of Commerce USA). He advises policymakers on economic justice, workforce policy, and sustainable development. His leadership in various strategic planning committees at FIU demonstrates his commitment to aligning academic programs with local and national labor market needs.
Memberships & Affiliations:
He is a member of prominent organizations such as the National Economic Association (NEA), National Association of Business Economics (NABE), and RECLA (Red Universitaria de Educación Continua de Latinoamérica y Europa). These affiliations demonstrate his active engagement in global academic and policy communities.
Publications:
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Racial Disparities in Family Income, Assets, and Liabilities: A Century After the 1921 Tulsa Massacre
W.A. Darity Jr., R.E. García, L. Russell, J.N. Zumaeta
Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 45(2), 256–275, 2024.
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The Incarceration Penalty and Black-White Economic Inequality: The Case of Baltimore
L. Russell, J.N. Zumaeta, A. Colston, W.A. Darity Jr.
AEA Papers and Proceedings, 113, 456–461, 2023.
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Money Illusion in Charitable Giving in the Absence of Market Price Resistance
J.N. Zumaeta
Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 13(3), 24–33, 2021.
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Meta-Analysis of Seven Standard Experimental Paradigms Comparing Student to Non-Student Populations
J.N. Zumaeta
Meta, 13(2), 22–33, 2021.
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A Logistic Regression Analysis to Assist Welfare Recipients Attaining Employment
J.N. Zumaeta
The Journal of Social Sciences Research, 7(2), 75–91, 2021.
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The Cool Entrepreneurship Program for At-Risk Youth: An Illustration of the Social Construction of Economic Thinking
J.N. Zumaeta
Tilburg University, 2013.
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The Economics of Disinformation: Academic Freedom in the Era of AI
J.N. Zumaeta
Journal of Academic Freedom, 15, 2024.
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Economic Attitudes and Financial Decisions Among Welfare Recipients: Considerations for Workforce Policy
J. Zumaeta
Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4973794, 2024.
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Federal Job Guarantee as a Path for Ending Income Inequality and Promoting Business Sustainability
J.N. Zumaeta
Duke University – Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity, 2022.
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An Econometric Analysis of the Effects of the Job Training Partnership Act on Self-Sufficiency
J.N. Zumaeta
The Journal of Social Sciences Research, 7(2), 66–74, 2021.
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The Journal of Social Sciences Research – Special Issue Contributions
J.N. Zumaeta.
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A Comparison of American Community Survey Profiles & Administrative Unemployment Insurance Summaries: Final Report
J.N. Zumaeta
Research Report, 2011.