Prof. Juliet Elu’s Profile
Juliet U. Elu is a distinguished American economist whose scholarly contributions and leadership have significantly impacted both academia and policy discourse on economic development, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. She currently holds the position of Charles E. Merrill Professor of Economics and serves as Chair of the Division of Business and Economics at Morehouse College. Prior to her current role, she served as Vice Chancellor of Gregory University in Nigeria, where she played a pivotal role in establishing the institution as a private Catholic university in Uturu, located in southeastern Nigeria. Her professional affiliations include serving as president of two prominent organizations: the National Economic Association and the African Finance and Economics Association, further cementing her influence in the fields of economics and finance.
Elu’s academic journey began at Utah State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Political Science, followed by an MBA and a Master of Public Administration (MPA). She subsequently completed her doctoral studies, earning a PhD in
Economics from the University of Utah in 1992. This robust educational foundation laid the groundwork for her extensive career in teaching, research, and institutional leadership. Over the years, she has held faculty positions at several prestigious institutions, including Clarke University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College, where she continues to shape the minds of future economists and business leaders.
Elu’s scholarly work spans a wide range of topics, with a particular focus on economic development, inequality, and the intersection of gender and ethnicity in sub-Saharan Africa. Among her notable publications is a collaborative study with Kingsley Banya titled “The World Bank and Financing Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa,” which critically examines the role of international financial institutions in shaping higher education policies in the region. In another significant contribution, co-authored with Gregory N. Price, Elu explores whether China transfers productivity-enhancing technology to manufacturing firms in sub-Saharan Africa, offering empirical evidence that sheds light on the dynamics of foreign investment and technological advancement in the region.
Her research also delves into issues of earnings inequality, as evidenced in her paper with Linda Loubert, “Earnings Inequality and the Intersectionality of Gender and Ethnicity in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Tanzanian Manufacturing.” This study highlights the compounded effects of social identities on economic outcomes, contributing valuable insights to discussions on equity and inclusion. Additionally, Elu has examined broader questions of human development in sub-Saharan Africa, as seen in her article “Human Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Analysis and Prospects for the Future,” which provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing the region. In collaboration with Gregory N. Price, she has also investigated the macroeconomic implications of regional currency integration in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the context of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, offering critical perspectives on resilience and policy coordination in the face of global economic shocks.
Through her academic rigor, leadership roles, and commitment to addressing pressing socio-economic issues, Juliet U. Elu has established herself as a leading voice in the field of economics. Her work not only advances theoretical understanding but also provides practical solutions to some of the most complex challenges confronting developing economies today.
