Dr. Andrew Herr joined the Saint Vincent faculty in 1996. Dr. Herr teaches a variety of courses in Macroeconomics, Game Theory, and Experimental Economics. Since 2022, he has served as Chair of the Economics Department. In 2020, he became the Br. Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B., Endowed Chair in Economics and Business.
Dr. Herr’s research focuses on Experimental Economics. He has published papers in The Journal of Development Economics, The Economic Journal, and Games and Economic Behavior and has overseen nearly 50 senior thesis projects in this area. More recently, Dr. Herr has expanded his research interest to include Catholic Higher Education. He has co-authored three papers in this area with Dr. Jason King.
Having conducted studies for local organizations, including the Allegheny Trail Alliance, the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board, and the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Dr. Herr has also conducted internal studies for Saint Vincent College, including economic impact studies of the Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp and the expansion of the Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing.
Throughout his career, Dr. Herr has served the College in a variety of ways. For 19 years, he was the Head Men’s Cross Country and Track Coach, earning PAC Coach of the Year honors seven times. He has served multiple terms on Faculty Council, and for many years has served on the Compensation and Academic Status Committees. In 2007, he received the Boniface Wimmer Faculty Award, which recognizes continuing, distinguished achievement and loyal service to Saint Vincent College and its students.
Dr. Herr is married and has two adult children. He enjoys traveling as well as engaging in outdoor activities such as running, hiking, and mountain biking.
Education
PhD, Indiana University-Bloomington MA, Ohio State University BS, North Carolina State University
Courses
Principles of Macroeconomics Macroeconomic Theory Advanced Macroeconomics Game Theory Experimental Economics Senior Thesis
Research Interests
Behavioral Economics Catholic Higher Education
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Publications
“The Pandemic, Contingent Faculty, and Catholic Colleges and Universities” (with Jason King and Julia Cavallo), Academic Labor: Research and Artistry Volume 6, Issue 1 (2022): In press.
“The Data and Ethics of Contingent Faculty at Catholic Colleges and Universities” (with Julia Cavallo and Jason King), Journal of Moral Theology 9 (2020), 165–184.
“Does Service and Volunteering Affect Catholic Identity?” (with Jason King), Praxis: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Faith and Justice 1 (2019), 104–122.
“Does Catholic Identity Affect Students?” (with Jason King), Journal of Catholic Higher Education 34 (2015), 195–209.
“The Power and Limitations of Proportional Cutbacks in Common-Pool Resources” (with Roy Gardner, Elinor Ostrom, and James Walker), Journal of Development Economics 62 (2000), 515–533.
“Collective Choice in the Commons: Experimental Results on Proposed Allocation Rules and Votes” (with James Walker, Roy Gardner, and Elinor Ostrom), The Economic Journal 110 (2000), 212–234.
“An Experimental Study of Time-Independent and Time-Dependent Externalities in the Commons” (with James Walker and Roy Gardner), Games and Economic Behavior 19 (1997), 77–96.
Other Studies and Publications
“Analysis of 2020 Trail Usage Patterns along the Great Allegheny Passage,” Prepared for the Allegheny Trail Alliance, February 2021.
“2019 Steelers Training Camp: Local Economic Impacts and Fan Characteristics” (with Steven Patterson), Prepared for Saint Vincent College, March 2020.
“Analysis of 2019 Trail Usage Patterns along the Great Allegheny Passage,” Prepared for the Allegheny Trail Alliance, March 2020.
“Analysis of 2018 Trail Usage Patterns along the Great Allegheny Passage,” Prepared for the Allegheny Trail Alliance, August 2019.
“Analysis of 2017 Trail Usage Patterns along the Great Allegheny Passage,” Prepared for the Allegheny Trail Alliance, July 2018.
“Analysis of 2016 Trail Usage Patterns along the Great Allegheny Passage,” Prepared for the Allegheny Trail Alliance, June 2017.
“Analysis of 2015 Trail Usage Patterns along the Great Allegheny Passage,” Prepared for the Allegheny Trail Alliance, August 2016.
“Analysis of 2013 Trail Usage Patterns along the Great Allegheny Passage,” Prepared for The Progress Fund, April 2014.
“Analysis of 2012 Trail Usage Patterns along the Great Allegheny Passage,” Prepared for The Progress Fund, April 2013.
“Analysis of 2011 Trail Usage Patterns along the Great Allegheny Passage,” Prepared for The Progress Fund, May 2012.
“Analysis of Trail Usage Patterns along the Great Allegheny Passage,” Prepared for the Trail Town Program, March 2011.
“Economic Impact Study of the Boyer School Science Center Expansion,” Prepared for Saint Vincent College, July 2009.
“An Industry Cluster Analysis of Westmoreland and Fayette Counties (1995-2004),” Prepared for the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board, May 2006.
“Industry Cluster Analysis of Westmoreland and Fayette Counties to Address Workforce Development Needs,” Prepared for the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board, October 2003.
“Sensitivity Analysis of Mine Refuse Pile Rating System,” Conducted for the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, July 2001.
“Trading off state taxes no bargain” (with Gary Quinlivan), Harrisburg Patriot-News, April 4, 2000.
“Analysis of 2021 Trail Usage Patterns along the Great Allegheny Passage,” Prepared for the Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy, March 2022.
“Analysis of 2022 Trail Usage Patterns along the Great Allegheny Passage,” Prepared for the Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy, March 2023.
“Analysis of 2023 Trail Usage Patterns along the Great Allegheny Passage,” Prepared for the Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy, March 2024.
“Analysis of 2024 Trail Usage Patterns along the Great Allegheny Passage,” Prepared for the Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy, March 2025.
Presentations and Seminars
Behavioral Sciences Academic Village Event, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, February 2003. “Playing Games with Economics”
Summer Institute in Watershed Restoration, Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA, August 1997. “An Economist’s Perspective on Environmental Issues”
West Virginia University Department of Economics Seminar, Morgantown, WV, February 1997. “An Experimental Study of Pure Group Size Effects in the Commons”
Economic Science Association Meetings, Tucson, AZ, October 1995. “An Experimental Study of Pure Group Size Effects in the Commons”
