Ruth Uwaifo Oyelere
Chair and Associate Professor of Economics
Dr. Ruth Uwaifo Oyelere graduated with first class honors in Economics from the University of Ibadan and furthered her studies at the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned both her Masters and Ph.D. She also enhanced her academic foundation as a pre-doctoral fellow at Yale University. She is an Associate Professor of Economics and currently serves as chair of the Economics and Business Management Department at Agnes Scott College. Dr Oyelere is a labor economist and a research fellow at both the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) and the World of Labor Organization (WLO). She is also a research affiliate of the Household in Conflict Network.
Dr. Oyelere’s research interests are diverse, spanning development economics, labor and demographic economics, education economics, and health economics. Her work frequently intersects these fields, allowing for a multifaceted approach to addressing complex economic issues.
Her scholarly contributions are published in various leading academic journals. One of her recent joint studies explored ethnic and racial differences in housing vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research gained attention beyond the academic sphere, resulting in a research brief in The CONVERSATION.
Dr. Oyelere’s other recently published research topics include:
- Estimating and analyzing the evolution of inequality in Nigeria.
- Investigating the impact of violent conflict on the labor supply of agricultural households.
- Examining both the short-term and long-term effects of violent conflict on welfare in Nigeria.
- Identifying specific correlates of adverse childhood experiences among inmates using a unique dataset from China.
- Exploring the commonality between economic research and social justice issues.
Her current research projects continue to delve into critical socio-economic issues, such as:
- The impact of land inequality in Nigeria on agricultural household poverty.
- The effects of Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 educational system on labor market outcomes.
- The relationship between marriage market prospects and homeownership among the never married.
- The influence of a woman’s network on the likelihood of experiencing domestic violence.
Dr. Oyelere is an academic and researcher who not only contributes significantly to academic discourse but also explores pressing societal challenges, demonstrating her commitment to leveraging economic research for practical and impactful outcomes.