DONALD SCHUNK, Research Economist

Donald L. Schunk, research economist with the BB&T Center for Economic and Community Development, joined the Coastal Carolina University faculty in 2007. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Bemidji State University in Minnesota in 1995 and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Tennessee in 1999. Prior to joining Coastal, Schunk was with the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.

At Coastal, Schunk conducts research in the areas of economic impact and development, cost/benefit analyses for public and private projects, and has designed and maintains an economic forecasting model for the national, state, and local economies. He also serves as a liaison with the area business community and state and local governments.

His research interests include regional economics, public economics, macro/monetary economics and time series analysis. He has published numerous articles in academic journals, has authored many studies on different aspects of the South Carolina economy, and makes frequent presentations to business, community and government groups.