Dr. Le Hong Thai, the Deputy Head of the Public Finance Department at the University of Economics and Business – Vietnam National University Hanoi (VNU-UEB) is set to embark on an academic journey this August. Dr. Thai will spend three months at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, researching the relationships between geopolitical events, energy markets, and inflation expectations as part of the USAID Partnership for Higher Education Reform’s Visiting Scholar Program. 

As a researcher in macroeconomics and public finance, Dr. Thai is eager to explore how the relationships between geopolitical risks, energy markets, and inflation expectations collectively influence economic dynamics. His research will focus specifically on the period from February 1992 to December 2023 in the United States. Dr. Thai’s research will delve into the time-varying relationships among geopolitical risks and energy shocks, and examine the transmission channels through which these elements impact inflation expectations. Additionally, his work will assess the implications of these findings for monetary policy and financial market participants. Dr. Thai’s research promises to offer valuable insights that could influence policy-making and economic strategies on a broader scale.

Before his departure to the U.S., Dr. Thai has been diligently preparing for his research by working on the theoretical framework, conducting a comprehensive literature review, and collecting relevant data. Once in the United States, he will focus on data analysis, manuscript writing, and disseminating his research results. The Visiting Scholar Program will provide Dr. Thai with ample opportunities to connect and collaborate with faculty members at Indiana University who share his research interests.

Dr. Thai is particularly looking forward to sharing his research findings at the host university’s seminars, networking events, and international conferences. Notably, he will present his work at the Annual Conference of the International Academy of Financial Consumers, scheduled for this August. Furthermore, Dr. Thai will have the opportunities to deliver guest lectures and connect researchers at Indiana University with his home university for the UEB Finance and Banking Seminar Series, fostering potential future collaborations.

The Visiting Scholar Program (VSP) under the USAID Partnership for Higher Education Reform project supports scholars from (1) Vietnam National University, (2) the University of Danang, and (3) Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City. The goal is to improve the research and teaching capacity of scholars across Vietnam while expanding strategic partnerships with higher education institutions in the United States. In the Summer and Fall of 2024, the VSP will send a total of 21 scholars from Vietnam’s three major public university systems to host institutions in the United States for academic research and exchange experiences.