Kathryn L. Combs, PhD, teaches graduate-level managerial economics and economics of strategy courses at the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business. Prior to her academic career, she was a manager at Pacific Northwest Bell in Seattle, Washington. She earned her BA in economics at Washington State University and her MA and PhD in economics at the University of Minnesota.
Combs has expertise in the economics of innovation, applied game theory, industrial organization and public finance. She has published numerous articles in scholarly journals, and received the 2000 Lang Rosen Gold Award for her article on limited liability companies and technology transfer in the Journal of Technology Transfer.
Combs is currently researching the economics of gambling, in particular state lotteries and state-regulated casino gambling. Her research focuses on the demand for such gambling products and how these gambling activities are used as a source of revenue for state governments.
- Combs, K. L., & Spry, J. A. (2019). The effect of lotto game changes and large jackpots on income elasticities and sales. Contemporary Economic Policy, (37)(2), pp. 261-273
- Combs, K. L., Kim, L., Landers, J. B., & Spry, J. A. (2016). The responsiveness of casino revenue to the casino tax rate. Public Budgeting and Finance, (36)(3), pp. 22-44
- Combs, K. L., Crowley, J. E., & Spry, J. A. (2014). The effect of New Jersey Lottery promotions on consumer demand and state profits. Eastern Economic Journal, (40), pp. 326-348
- Combs, K. L., & Spry, J. A. (2012). Who plays the numbers games in the middle of the day?. Applied Economics, (44)(7), pp. 889-897
- Combs, K. L., Gibson, S., Hays, J. M., Saly, P., & Wendt, J. T. (2008). Enhancing curriculum and delivery: Linking assessment to learning objectives. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, (33)(1), pp. 87-102
- Combs, K. L., Kim, J., & Spry, J. A. (2008). The relative regressivity of seven lottery games. Applied Economics, (40)(1), pp. 35-39
- Combs, K. L. (2005). The welfare effects of research and production joint ventures. Journal of Technology Transfer, (30)(1-2), pp. 227-239
- Combs, K. L. (2003). Innovation policy in search of an economic foundation: The case of research partnerships in the United States. Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, (15)(2), pp. 177-187
- Audretsch, D., Bozeman,, B., Combs, K. L., Feldman, M., & Link, A. (2002). The economics of science and technology. Journal of Technology Transfer, (27)(1), pp. 155-203
- Combs, K. L. (1999). Limited liability companies and technology transfer. Journal of Technology Transfer, (24)(1), pp. 25-35
- Combs, K. L., & Schreft, S. L. (1999). Do consumers really want credit card reform. Economic Review, (3rd),
- Combs, K. L. (1993). The role of information sharing in cooperative research and development. International Journal of Industrial Organization, (11), pp. 535-551
- Combs, K. L. (1992). Cost sharing versus multiple research projects in cooperative R and D. Economics Letters, (39), pp. 353-357
- Combs, K. L., & Spry, J. A. (2009). Economics of Betting Markets. In David Peel (Ed.), The relative regressivity of seven lottery games Ch 5. Routledge
- Combs, K. L., & Gray, C. M. (2007). Managerial economics and organizational architecture 4th ed. McGraw-Hill
- Combs, K. L., Gray, C. M., & Spry, J. A. (2007). Updated managerial economics and organizational architecture test bank. McGraw-Hill
- Combs, K. L. (2005). Essays in Honor of Edwin Mansfield: The Economics of R & D, Innovation, & Technological Change. In Albert N. Link & Frederic M. Scherer (Ed.), The welfare effects of research and production joint ventures. Springer
- Minnesota Economic Association
- National Tax Association
- Southern Economic Association
- Eastern Economic Association
- Church of St. Mark, Finance Council
- Professor of Business Economics, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul / Minneapolis (2006 - present)
- Department Chair - Finance, University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul / Minneapolis (2015 - present)
- Professor of Economics, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul / Minneapolis (2002 - 2006)
- Associate Professor of Economics, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul / Minneapolis (1999 - 2002)
- Visiting Faculty, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (1996 - 1999)
- Associate Professor with tenure, California State University Department of Economics and Statistics, Los Angeles (1993 - 1999)
- Adjunct Instructor, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul / Minneapolis (1997 - 1999)
- Assistant Professor, California State University Department of Economics and Statistics, Los Angeles (1986 - 1992)
- Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Southern California, Department of Finance and Business Economics, (1989 - 1990)
- Forecaster, Pacific Northwest Bell, Seattle (1979 - 1981)