Article shines (LED) spotlight on Central
Professor
Economics
Professor
Latino & Puerto Rican Studies Minor
Office
Ebenezer D. Bassett Hall
4160800
Tuesday
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Wednesday
12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Thursday
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Biography
I am a Professor of Economics at Central Connecticut State University. My research lies at the intersection of industrial organization, entrepreneurship, and behavioral economics, focusing on how expectations, incentives, and institutional environments shape firm behavior and innovation.
My work combines empirical analysis and theoretical modeling to study small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), gender differences in entrepreneurship, and innovation dynamics. Recent research examines business expectations and firm innovation in countries such as Panama, Zambia, and Ireland, contributing to the literature on how financial constraints, managerial decisions, and uncertainty affect firm performance.
In the classroom, I emphasize critical thinking and the practical relevance of economic reasoning. My goal is to help students move beyond formulas to understand how economic forces influence real-world decisions made by individuals, firms, and institutions.
Beyond teaching and research, I engage in applied economic analysis and policy discussions related to economic development, entrepreneurship, and higher-education reform. I believe economics should clarify the world, not complicate it.
Education
Publications, Research & Presentations
Recent Peer-reviewed Publications:
Liard-Muriente, Carlos F. 2025, “Business Expectations and Gender Differences: The Case of SMEs in Panama,” Revista de Economía del Caribe 35 (1):89-102.
Liard-Muriente, Carlos F. 2023, “Adaptations, Female Labour Participation, and Innovation among SMEs in Zambia during Covid-19 Pandemic,” African Journal of Economic Review 11(4):1-14.
Liard-Muriente, Carlos F. 2022, “SMEs Innovation in Zambia During the Covid-19 Pandemic,” Empirical Economics Review 12(1-2), 10-21.
Recent Presentations and Webinars:
Gender Differences and Business Expectations Among Firms in Panama. 2025 Decision Sciences Institute Annual Conference. Orlando, FL. November 22-24, 2025.
The Impact of Funding and Manager’s Compensation on Innovation: SMEs in Ireland. MWDSI 2025 Annual Conference. Penn State Behrend in Erie, PA. April 10 - 11, 2025.
Our Money or Their Money: Internal vs. External Financing and Innovation Among SMEs in Ireland. 37th Pennsylvania Economic Association Annual Conference, Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, PA. June 1-3, 2023.
Small Firms and Entrepreneurship in Panama. 49th Northeast Business and Economic Association Annual Conference, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. November 10-12, 2022.
Economic Conditions of Latinos in the Greater Hartford Region. The Quality of Life of the Latino Community in the Greater Hartford Region. Latino Endowment Fund, Hartford, Connecticut. October 13, 2022.
Post-Covid Positive Business Expectations among SMEs in Panama. 36th Pennsylvania Economic Association Annual Conference, Gannon University. Erie, PA. June 2-4, 2022.
Courses Taught
Principles of Macroeconomics (Econ 200)
Principles of Microeconomics (Econ 201)
Macroeconomics (Econ 300)
Microeconomics (Econ 305)
Behavioral Economics (Econ 306)
International Economics (Econ 430)