Dr. Nyakundi Michieka

 
Nyakundi Michieka
 

Education

  • Ph.D. Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, West Virginia University, August 2013
  • M.S. Management and Leadership – Public Administration, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, August 2008
  • B.S. Mechatronic Engineering, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, July 2006

Professional Employment

  • 2020 – Present: Associate Professor – Department of Economics, California State University, Bakersfield
  • 2020 – Present: Co-Director – Center for Economic Education and Research (CEER)
  • 2014 – 2020: Assistant Professor – Department of Economics, California State University, Bakersfield
  • 2008 - 2013: Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant – Department of Resource Management, West Virginia University
  • 2007 - 2008: Graduate Research Assistant - East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

Research Interests

  • Energy economics, Energy policy, Energy demand, Renewable, and Non-renewable energy.
  • Regional Economics, Economic Development, and Poverty.
  • Spatial Econometrics and Time Series Analysis.

Professional Memberships

  • Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA), July 2011 — Present
  • Regional Science Association International (RSAI), March 2010 — Present
  • Southern Regional Science Association (SRSA), March 2010 — Present
  • United States Association for Energy Economics (USAEE), May 2011 — Present
  • Western Economic Association International (WEAI), July 2017 – Present
  • Western Regional Science Association (WRSA), March 2018 — Present

Publications

 

  1. Michieka, M. N., Gearhart, R. S. and S. Mwilaria 2025. Urbanization, Energy Use and Spatial Spillovers: The Case of Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Economic Research. (In Press)
  2. Gearhart, R. S., Michieka, M. N., Ardan L., E. Stutzman 2024. More Is Not Always Better: The Role of Obesity and Pregnancy Weight Gain on Maternal and Child Health. Journal of Obesity. vol. 2024, pp. 13, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/8816878
  3. Graziano, M., Michieka, M. N., Musso, M., Fouquet R., 2024. “Energy Transitions of Declining Energy Industries: The Effect of Renewable Portfolio Standards on the U.S. Coal Industry” Environmental Research: Energy. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/ad7d11
  4. Nondo, C., Odhiambo S. Michieka, M. N., Gearhart R. S., 2024. “The Environmental Tale of Two Countries: Determinants of CO2 Emissions in South Africa and Australia” Economics and Policy of Energy and The Environment. no. 1 (2024): 193-217. DOI: http://doi.org/10.3280/EFE2024-001011
  5. Michieka, M. N., Gearhart, R. S., and Razek, H.A. 2024. “Oil Price Dynamics and Housing Demand in Oil Producing Counties in the U.S.” Journal of Economics and Finance. (Forthcoming)
  6. Michieka, M. N., and Gearhart, R. S. 2023. “Do Oil Price Fluctuations Influence Criminal Activity in Energy Rich Regions? Evidence from California’s Central Valley.” Crime, Law and Social Change. (Forthcoming).
  7. Michieka, M. N., Razek, H.A., and Gearhart, R. S. 2023. “Modeling the Impact of Oil Price Changes and Investment Decisions on Construction Wages in the U.S.” Construction Management and Economics. (Forthcoming).
  8. Gearhart, R. S., Michieka, M. N. and T. Bersak (2023). “CBD As a Cure-All? The Impacts of State-Level Legalization of Prescription Cannabidiol (CBD) on Opioid Prescriptions".” Southern Economic Journal. (Forthcoming).
  9. Gearhart, R. S., Michieka, M. N. and Anders, A (2023). “The Effectiveness of COVID Deaths to COVID Policies: A Robust Conditional Approach.” Economic Analysis and Policy. (Forthcoming).
  10. Michieka, M. N., Graziano, M., Musso, M. and R. Fouquet. 2022. “Energy Transitions and Labor Market Patterns in the U.S. Coal Industry” Structural Change and Economic Dynamics. (Forthcoming).
  11. Sarma, S. and Michieka, M. N. 2022. “Public Perception of Oilfield Produced Water: The Case of California’s Central Valley” Energy & Environment. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0958305X221124223.
  12. Gearhart, R. S., Sonchak-Ardan, L and Michieka, M. N., 2022. “The Efficiency of COVID Cases to COVID Policies: A Robust Conditional Approach” Empirical Economics. (Forthcoming).
  13. Michieka, M. N, Deal, J. and Lahman K. 2022. “Air Pollution and Income Inequality: A Spatial Econometric Approach” The Annals of Regional Science. (Forthcoming). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00168-021-01105-7 "
  14. Gearhart, R. S. and Michieka, M. N., 2021. “Provider Availability, Disease Burdens, and Opioid Prescriptions” Economic Analysis and Policy. Volume 71, September 2021, Pages 371-383.
  15. Michieka, M. N., Lacombe, D. J. and Ampatzidis Y. 2021. “Golf Courses and Home Values in California’s Central Valley” International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis. DOI: 10.1108/IJHMA-10-2020-0127 (Forthcoming)
  16. Michieka, M. N., Gearhart, R. S. 2021. “Oil Price Changes and Wages: A Nonlinear and Asymmetric Approach” Economic Change and Restructuring. pp. 1-71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10644-020-09314-4
  17. Michieka, M. N., Razek, N. H. A., Gearhart, R.S. 2021. “Rainfall, Temperature, Energy and Economic Growth in Ethiopia: A Non-Linear and Asymmetric Approach.” Journal of Developing Areas Volume 55, Number 3, Summer 2021. pp. 291-315. 10.1353/jda.2021.0066.
  18. Michieka, M. N. Ampatzidis, Y. and R. S. Gearhart. 2021. “Oil Prices, Housing Market and Spillover Effects Evidence from California’s Central Valley.” Journal of Housing Research. Journal of Housing Research: 30:1, 77-97. DOI: 10.1080/10527001.2021.1901546
  19. Gearhart, S. R. and Michieka, M. N. 2020. “A Non-Parametric Investigation of Supply Side Factors and Healthcare Efficiency in the U.S." Journal of Productivity Analysis 54, pages 59–74. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11123-020-00585-7
  20. Gearhart, S. R. and Michieka, M. N. 2020. “Efficiency of American States After Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) From 2014 to 2017.” Applied Economics, DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2020.1730758
  21. Razek, H.A. and Michieka, M. N. 2019. “OPEC and Non-OPEC Production, World’s Demand, and the Financialization of Oil.” Research in International Business and Finance (Forthcoming).
  22. Michieka, M. N. and Gearhart, R. S. 2019. “Oil Price Dynamics and Sectoral Employment in the U.S.” Economic Analysis and Policy. Issue 62 Pages 140 – 149.
  23. Gearhart, R. S. and Michieka, M. N. 2019. “Natural Resource Abundance and Healthcare Efficiency in Appalachia: A Robust Conditional Approach” Energy Policy. Volume 129, June 2019, Pages 985-996.
  24. Gearhart, S., Michieka, M. N. 2019. “Efficiency of American States After Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) From 2014 to 2017.” Applied Economics. (forthcoming).
  25. Elhusseiny, M.F., Michieka, M. N. and Bae, B. 2019. “An Empirical Examination of the Arbitrage Pricing Theory: Evidences from the U. S. Stock Market.” Journal of Modern Accounting and Auditing. February 2019, Vol. 15, No. 2, 69-79.
  26. Michieka, M. N., Gearhart, R. S. 2018. “Resource Curse? The Case of Kern County.” Resources Policy . Volume 59, December 2018, Pages 446-459.
  27. Lacombe, J. L. and Michieka, M. N. 2018. “Forecasting China’s Industrial Output using a Spatial Bayesian Vector Autoregressive Model.” Growth and Change: A Journal of Urban and Regional Policy. Volume 49, Issue 4. December 2018. Pages 712-742.
  28. Gearhart, S. and Michieka, M. N. 2018. “A Comparison of the Robust Conditional Order-m Estimation and Two Stage DEA in Measuring Healthcare Efficiency Among California Counties.” Economic Modelling. Volume 73, June 2018, pp 395-406.
  29. Michieka, M. N., 2017. “Do Changes in Oil Prices Affect Welfare Programs? Evidence from Kern County.” Energy Economics, Volume 66 (2017), pp116 – 121.
  30. Gearhart, R. S., Michieka, M. N., 2016. “California County Health Rankings: How Efficiency Estimates Re-order Popular Estimates.” International Journal of Health Economics, Forthcoming.
  31. Michieka, M. N., Gearhart, R. S. 2015. “Oil Price Fluctuations and Employment in Kern County: A Vector Error Correction Approach.” Energy Policy, Volume 87, December 2015, pp 584-590.
  32. Michieka, M. N. 2015. “Short- and Long-Run Analysis of Factors Affecting Electricity Consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa.” International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Volume 5 (2015), Issue 3, pp 1-8.
  33. Michieka, M. N. 2014. “Energy and the Environment – The Relationship Between Coal Production and the Environment in China.” Natural Resource Research Journal, Volume 23 (2014), Issue 2, pp 285-298.
  34. Michieka, M. N., Fletcher, J. J. and Burnett, J. W. 2013. “An Empirical Analysis of The Role of China’s Exports on CO2 Emissions.” Applied Energy, Volume 104 (2013): pp 258-267.
  35. Michieka, M. N., Fletcher, J. J. 2012. “An Investigation of the role of China’s Urban Population on Coal Consumption.” Energy Policy, Volume 48 (2012), Issue 3: pp 668-676.
  36. Lacombe, J. D., Michieka, M. N., Gebremedhin, T. 2012. “Bayesian Approach to Model Selection: A Spatial Econometric Analysis of SNAP Participation Rates In Appalachia.” Journal Of Regional Analysis and Policy, Volume 42(2012), Issue 3: pp 198-209.
  37. Michieka, M. N., Pradhan, A., Gebremedhin, T. 2011. “A Spatial Analysis of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the Appalachian Region.” Journal of Food Distribution and Research, Volume 42 (2011), Issue 3: pp 77-95.

Grant Activity

  1. $23,659,268 (2024 - 2025), California Direct Air Capture Hub Front-End Engineering Design and Planning. Source: Department of Energy. (Co-Principal Investigator).
  2. $299,999 (2023 – 2026), Collaborative Capacity Building on Biodegradable Soil Sensors for Sustainable Agriculture. Source: USDA – NIFA: Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) (Co-Principal Investigator).
  3. $9,700 (2023), A study on the Prime Age Employment Gap (PAEG) in the Great Central Valley and Motherlode. Source: Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board (FRWDB) (Principal Investigator).
  4. $97,000, (2023), The Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic On Businesses And Industries In Kern County. Source: High Road to Regional Workforce Strategies and the Kern Community College District (Principal Investigator).
  5. $599,999, (2022 – 2025), SUPERSTAR: Sustainability Undergraduate Program For Extension And Research Of Science And Technology In Agricultural Region. Source: USDA – NIFA: Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program (HSI) (Co-Principal Investigator)
  6. $20,000, (Summer 2022), “Income and Wealth Inequality and Potential Solutions: Center for California Studies. California State University, Sacramento (Principal Investigator)
  7. $49,350, (2021 – 2022), B3K Dashboard. Source: CSUB Office of the President (Principal Investigator)
  8. $250,000 (2020 – 2024), BRIXCAL: Building Research and Internship Experiences for Hispanics in California’s Central Valley. Source: USDA – NIFA: Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program (HSI) (Principal Investigator)
  9. $50,000, (2020 – 2022), Enriching the Academic Experience for College Students from KTF (Kern, Tulare and Fresno Counties). Source: The Wonderful Company Foundation (Principal Investigator)
  10. $74,991, (2018), New Materials and Design Approach for Roads, Bridges, Pavement and Concrete Needs. Source: CSU Transportation Consortium (Co-Principal Investigator)
  11. $101,594, (2018 – 2020), Mechanical Harvest Technology for Fresh Fruits. Source: California Department of Food and Agriculture (Co-Principal Investigator)
  12. $149,753, (2017 – 2019), Investigating the use of treated unconventional water for potential agricultural applications. Source: USDA – NIFA: Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) (Co-Principal Investigator)
  13. $20,500, (2017), Economic Impacts of PG&E Bakersfield Power Connect an Economic Impact Study. Source: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (Research Faculty)
  14. $1,500 (2017), Purchase Software to be installed in CSUB PC Lab. Source: Instructionally Related Activities (IRA) at CSU Bakersfield (Instructional)
  15. $103,417, (2016), A Potential Opportunity Forecast on the Beneficial Reuse of Oil Field Water in the State of California. Source: CALFLOWS consortium (Co-Principal Investigator)
  16. $11,445, (2014), The Dynamic Evaluation of Volatility Transmission between Energy-Related and Non-Energy-Related Agricultural Commodities. Source: US Dept. of Agriculture – Office of the Chief Economist award (Research Faculty)
  17. $500, (2015, 2016 and 2019), Faculty Development Grants, Source CSUB Teaching and Learning Center
  18. $299,367, (2017), Developing novel research and extension opportunities for underrepresented students in Hispanic Serving Institutions. Source: National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) (External Evaluator)
  19. $274,728, (2017), RELO: Research, Experiential and Learning Opportunities for underrepresented students in biological and agricultural engineering. US Dept. of Agriculture - HSI program, (External Evaluator)

Current Projects

Working Papers:

  • Michieka, M. N. and Ampatzidis, Y. 2019. “Oil Prices, Housing Market and Spillover Effects Evidence from California’s Central Valley.” (Under Review).
  • Michieka, M. N., Elhusseiny, M., and Bae, B. “Do Shocks in Urban Population and Agricultural Output Affect CO2 Emissions in Sub-Saharan Africa?” (Under Review).
  • Michieka, M. N., Yamazaki, F., Paggi, M., Ampatzidis, Y. “The Economic Impact of Using Treated Oilfield Waste Water on Kern County.” (Under Review)

Book Review

  • Michieka, M. N. 2015. Antoine Halff, Benjamin K. Sovacool, and Jon Rozhon, eds. 2015. Energy Poverty: Global Challenges and Local Solutions. Oxford University Press: USA, ISBN: 9780199682362, 472 pp., $110.00 (hardcover).