Economists

Robert Schnorbus

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Research Interests

My current research interests are in understanding the dynamics of regional economic growth and structural change in an environment of rapid globalization. My particular focus is on gaining insights into how changes in the competitive strengths and weaknesses of the Fifth District economy affect its ability to provide early signals to cyclical and structural changes in the national economy.

 

Professional Experience

Robert Schnorbus manages the Richmond-based staff in the Regional Economics division of the Research Department. Schnorbus joined the Richmond Fed in August 2009 after working for J.D. Power and Associates for 12 years. As chief economist for the Michigan-based company, he researched issues impacting the automotive industry and produced quarterly forecasts on auto sales and global macroeconomic conditions. Prior to that position, Schnorbus led the regional business conditions analysis unit of the Research Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Education

Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University, 1978
B.A., University of Michigan, 1967

Curriculum vitae

"The Automobile Industry and Monetary Policy: An International Perspective" (with Paul D. Ballew and Helmut Hesse). Business Economics. 29, no. 4 (October 1994): 29-35.

"Demographic Changes, Consumption Patterns, and the Midwest Economy" (with Paul D. Ballew). Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Economic Perspectives. 18, no. 5 (September/October 1994): 2-10.

"Tracking Midwest Manufacturing and Productivity Growth" (with Philip R. Israilevich and Kenneth N. Kuttner). Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Economic Perspectives. 17, no. 5 (September/October 1993): 2-11.

"Assessing Global Auto Trends" (with Paul D. Ballew). Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Economic Perspectives. 17, no. 2 (March/April 1993): 15-26.

"Reconsidering the Regional Manufacturing Indexes" (with Philip R. Israilevich and Peter R. Schneider). Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Economic Perspectives. 13, no. 4 (July/August 1989): 13-21.

"Competitive Pricing Behavior in the U.S. Steel Industry" (with Philip R. Israilevich and Christopher J. Erceg). Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Economic Perspectives. 13, no. 2 (March/April 1989): 16-26.

"Is the Seventh District's Economy Deindustrializing?" (with Alenka S. Giese). Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Economic Perspectives. 11, no. 6 (November/December 1987): 3-9.

"The Midwest Manufacturing Index: The Chicago Fed's New Regional Economic Indicator" (with Philip R. Israilevich). Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Economic Perspectives. 11, no. 5 (September/October 1987): 3-7.

Date Topic Speaker
October 18, 2011 Regional Effects of the Great Recession Robert Schnorbus
May 3, 2011 A Survey Perspective on Small Business Activity Robert Schnorbus