Rafael Acevedo, PhD

Senior Program Manager & Research Associate

Rafael Acevedo

Contact

rafaelacevedo@creighton.edu
Menard Center for Economic Inquiry
Heider College of Business
Harper - 4007A

Rafael Acevedo, PhD

Senior Program Manager & Research Associate

Dr. Rafael Acevedo serves as Senior Program Manager & Research Associate at Creighton's Menard Family Center for Economic Inquiry (MCEI), where he provides strategic and operational leadership in support of the Center's mission. His responsibilities include overseeing administrative operations, developing academic programs, advancing research initiatives, coordinating executive education and community outreach, strengthening institutional partnerships, supporting fundraising efforts, and promoting the Center's long-term growth and impact. He also serves as the Administrative Director of the Menard Scholars Program.

Rafael is a researcher, academic entrepreneur, and higher education leader whose work explores the intersection of economic freedom, human flourishing, institutional economics, behavioral economics, entrepreneurship, innovation, public policy, and economic development. His research has been published in peer-reviewed international journals spanning Q1 through Q4 rankings, and he regularly presents his work at national and international academic conferences. In addition to his role at Creighton, he serves as an adjunct instructor for the University of Illinois Springfield and Western New Mexico University, where he continues teaching economics while maintaining an active research agenda.

Originally from Venezuela, Rafael devoted more than fifteen years to academia and public policy before relocating to the United States in 2018 as Venezuela's political and economic crisis deepened. He served as a tenured Associate Professor at Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado and founded a public policy think tank dedicated to advancing economic and political freedom through the principles of free markets, individual liberty, and sound institutions.

Unlike many international scholars who establish their careers in the United States through graduate education at American universities, Rafael arrived in mid-career without U.S. academic degrees, institutional networks, or professional connections. Determined to rebuild his life and continue pursuing scholarship, his first job in the United States was as the "organic shoveler" at a fertilizer manufacturing plant, where he spent his days shoveling manure while searching for an opportunity to return to academia. Rather than viewing that experience as a setback, Rafael considers it one of the most defining chapters of his professional journey, a powerful reminder that no honest work is beneath one's dignity and that perseverance, humility, and resilience are indispensable qualities for building both a career and a meaningful life.

That determination led him back to academia as a Visiting Research Associate at Texas Tech University's Free Market Institute, where he spent three years immersed in research and academic collaboration before joining Creighton University in 2021. Since then, he has contributed to the continued growth of the Menard Family Center for Economic Inquiry by expanding academic programming, strengthening administrative operations, supporting donor- and grant-funded initiatives, fostering research collaborations, and developing programs that connect scholarship with community engagement.

Rafael holds an Associate Degree in Administration of Physical and Financial Resources, a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, a Master of Science in Economics, and a PhD in Management. His professional journey reflects a commitment to lifelong learning, service, and the belief that scholarship should not only advance knowledge but also contribute to building freer societies, stronger institutions, and greater human flourishing. He continues to pursue new research, develop innovative academic initiatives, and contribute to higher education with the same determination that has guided every stage of his career.

Rafael lives in Papillion, Nebraska, with his wife, two children, and their Siberian Husky.

Education

  • PhD in Management. 2013. Universidad Yacambú. Venezuela.
  • Msc in Economics, concentration Economic Policies. 2010. Universidad de Los Andes. Venezuela.
  • Bachelor’s in Public Accounting. Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado. 2003. Venezuela.
  • Associate in Administration of Physical and Financial Resources. Colegio Universitario Fermín Toro. 1999. Venezuela.

Research Focus

Economic Freedom; Economic Growth & Development; Institutional Economics; Behavioral Economics; Applied Econometrics

 

Books

  1. “The Role of Fiscal Dependency in Political Development Fiscal Independence from Electoral Accountability.” With Hugo Faria, Hugo Montesinos, and Carlos Navarro. KSP-Books. Available: http://econsciences.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/978-625-8190-54-0.pdf
  2.  “The Cost of Free Stuff: Your Freedom” May 2021. KDP-Amazon. ISBN ‎ 979-8572298062
  3. “Prosperity & Liberty: What Venezuela Needs…” May 2019. KDP-Amazon. ISBN: 978-10-9350-703-4
  4. “Managerial and Costs Accountancy: With an Austrian Economic School Approach”. Legal Deposit: LA2019000016. ISBN: 978-980-7910-00-2. Editorial Econintech. Venezuela. (Spanish)
  5. “Causes and Culprits of the Economic Disaster in Venezuela. A tribute to Hugo Faría”. 2018. Editorial Círculo Rojo. Spain. ISBN: 978-84-9183-905-7 (Spanish)

    Academic Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals

  1. “The Venezuelan Economic Recovery of 2019–2025: The de Facto Dollarization and the Limits of Commercial Expansion” With Jose Mora and Alberto Hurtado. Forthcoming. European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
  2. “Estimating Institutional and Cultural Drivers of Human Flourishing Using Cross-National Microdata” (Solo-authored). Forthcoming. Journal of Review of Social Economy. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00346764.2026.2688822
  3. “When Institutions Intervene: Economic Freedom and the Uneven Transmission of Monetary Policy into U.S. Housing Markets” With Jorge Romero-Habeych. January 2026. Journal of Government and Economics, Vol. 20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jge.2026.100166 
  4. “Monetary Policy, Asymmetric Effects, and Economic Freedom: A Panel Interactive Model Approach.” With Jose Mora and Maria Lorca-Susino. December, 2025. Journal of Financial Economic Policy. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JFEP-07-2025-0293 
  5. “Beyond Their Borders – Economic Freedom: Uncovering One of the Motivations of Unauthorized Migration to the U.S.A.”. With Juan Bogado. March, 2025. Economic Analysis Letters, Vol 4(1): 1-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58567/eal04010001
  6. “Entrepreneurship: The Forgotten Input for Growth in the European Union”. With Maria Lorca-Susino. March 2025. Journal of Economic Analysis, forthcoming.
  7. “USA – Innovation Index: A State - Level Proposal”. With Jose Mora and Jorge Romero-Habeych. Economic Analysis Letters, Vol 4(1): 12-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58567/eal04010002 
  8. “The Euro and the U.S. Dollar: Reserve Currency Rivalry in the 21st Century - A Review”. With Maria Lorca-Susino. 2024. Economic Research Guardian, Vol 14(2): 176-202.
  9. “The Unfree, the Freer, and the Government: Economic Freedom and the Fiscal Multiplier”. With María Lorca-Susino. Journal of Government and Economics, Vol 3, Spring-2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jge.2024.100098
  10. “The Short-Run Consequences of Economic Freedom Erosion in Latin American Countries: An Unorthodoxal Experimental Review for the XXI Century”. With María Lorca-Susino. CEPAL Review (journal of the ECLAC). Presented in LASA-2021, LASA-2022. Forthcoming.
  11. “Shock determination in a Two-Stage Decision Making Model: The case of Covid-19 in Colombia.” With Pedro Harmath, Jose Mora, Raquel Puente, Elvis Aponte. Journal of Managerial Decision Economics. Vol. 43(6), pp. 2587-2597. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/mde.3547 
  12. “The Government Spending Multiplier in Latin American Countries: Does the Institutional Environment Matter?”. With Jose U. Mora and Andrew T. Young. Journal of Financial Economic Policy. Vol. 14(4), pp. 476-490. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JFEP-02-2021-0030 
  13. “European Union Oil Dependency: A Threat to Economic Growth and Diplomatic Freedom.” With María Lorca-Susino. International Journal of Energy Sector Management. Vol. 15(5), pp. 987-1006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJESM-10-2020-0010 
  14. “Venezuela: The Downfall of Promise.” With Walter Block, and Christian Hanson. Estudios Libertarios. Early View: ResearchGate
  15. “Growth and Institutions in Latin American Countries: An Experimental Review for the XXI Century”. 2021. With María Lorca-Susino. Revista De La Facultad De Jurisprudencia – Ecuador, Vol 9. Pp: 119-149. http://www.revistarfjpuce.edu.ec/index.php/rfj/article/view/364/182 
  16. “Rational Irrationality: A Two-Stage Decision Making Model”. With Elvis Aponte, Pedro Harmath, and Jose U. Mora. Advances in Decision Sciences, Vol. 25, Issue 1, March 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47654/v25y2021i1p1-39
  17. “Desocialization of Taxes: A Taxation System Proposal for Venezuela”. With Luis Cirocco, and María Lorca-Susino. Estudios Libertarios, Vol. 3, 2020. Presented in the Libertarian Scholars Conference, New York 2019. Available: https://hdl.handle.net/2346/86885
  18. “Desocialization of Enterprises: Empowering Venezuelans”. 2019. With Luis Cirocco, and María Lorca-Susino. The Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics. Vol. 22, No. 2, Pp. 271-297. Presented at the Austrian Economics Research Conference, Auburn, Alabama. March, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35297/qjae.010014
  19. “Fiscal Policy Effects and Capital Mobility in Latin America Countries”. Journal of Economic Integration,Vol. 34, No. 1, March 2019. Pp 159 – 188. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11130/jei.2019.34.1.159
  20. “Multipoverty in Venezuela: A Libertarian Approach”. MISES: Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy, Law, and Economics. With: Luis Cirocco and Fernando D’Andrea. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30800/mises.2018.v0.949
  21. “The Price of Crime: How Crime Affects Private Investment in South America”. Economía & Región. Vol. 9, No. 2, pp: 47-74. Cartagena, Colombia. 2015. With: Mónica García-Pérez. Available: https://revistas.utb.edu.co/index.php/economiayregion/article/view/105
  22. “Political Perception of Poverty: A Multi-Method Analysis of Contemporary Venezuela”. Cayapa, Año 15, Nro. 30, pp. 49-65. Universidad de Los Andes. Venezuela. 2015. With Omaira Peña; Pedro Harmath and Monica García-Pérez. (Spanish)
  23. “Descriptive Analysis of Venezuelans’ consumption, savings and incomes during the V Republic”. Sapienza Organizacional. Año 2, No. 3, pp: 7-30. Mérida, Venezuela. 2015. With Yasmin Sanchez (Spanish)
  24. “Managerial Accounting and the Emerging Decision Making in the Universidad Politecnica Territorial Andres Eloy Blanco from Barquisimeto Lara State: a Phenomenological Approach”. Visión Gerencial, N° 1, 2014, Venezuela. With: Jose M. Rueda (UPTAEB-Venezuela) and Neley Rueda (UPEL-IPB-Venezuela). (Spanish)
  25. “The Decision Making Process: A Behavioral Economics Model”. 2013. MPRA. Working Paper. (Spanish)
  26. “Potential GDP in Venezuela: A SVAR Approach 1998-2008”. Journal Desarrollo y Sociedad. UNIANDES – Colombia. First Semester 2013, N° 71, P 43-81; With José U. Mora M. and Pedro Harmath. (Spanish)
  27. “Poverty: perceptions and approaches. An analysis for Venezuela”. Journal Nomadas of Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. With: Omaira Peña and Pedro Harmath. Special Issue America Latina 2013. (Spanish)
  28. “Total Poverty in Venezuela: An Approach of its Economical Determinants”. Anales de Economia Aplicada 2010. ASEPELT-España. N° XXIV. ISBN: 978-84-92954-15-5. P 229-251; With Pedro Harmath. (Spanish)
  29. “Saving and Opennes as Determinants of Investment in Latin America during the 20th Century”. Revista Economía y Desarrollo de la Universidad Autónoma de Colombia. March 2010, Vol. 9, N° 1. P 67 – 86. With Jose U. Mora Mora and Pedro Harmath. (Spanish)
  30. “Economical Determinants of Total Poverty in Venezuela: 1975 – 2000”. Economia. N° 28. 2nd Ed. 2009. With Pedro Harmath. (Spanish)
  31. “Considerations on the relationship between private investment and social political factors in Venezuela and Latin America”. Compendium. N° 22. July 2009. (Spanish)
  32. “Managerial Efficiency: An Empirical Approach to Measure and Evaluate the Electrical Sector of Venezuela”. Vision Gerencial. N° 1, Pp 18 – 29. 2009. (Spanish)
  33. “Philosophical Implications of Managerial Efficiency”. Vision Gerencial. N° 2. Pp 217 – 226. 2008. (Spanish)
  34. “Socio-political and Judicial Factors as Determinants of Private Investment in Latin America”. Economía. N° 26. 2nd Ed. 2008. P 93-118. With Jose U. Mora Mora. (Spanish)

Research Works in Process

  1. “Personality and Income Growth: Within-Country Evidence from the Global Flourishing Study” Under Review. (Solo-authored Paper)
  2. “Behavioral Strategic Decision Systems: A Dynamic Game-Theoretic Extension of the Two-Stage Decision-Making Framework” With Jose U. Mora. 
  3. “Economic Freedom and Monetary Uncertainty: Evidence on Entrepreneurship” With Fernando Monteiro D’Andrea.
  4. “Revisiting Acevedo et al 2025: USA – Innovation Index 2026 covering 2000 – 2020 and consolidating methodology” Research in progress – purpose: creation of an open source innovation index from 2000.
  5. “Consequences of Rent-Seeking and Mercantilism: An Institutional Approach” With Angel Alvarado, Hugo Faria, Hugo Montesinos, and Olga Montesinos. “Executive Constraints & the Quality of Democracy” With Hugo Faria, Samuel McQuae, and Carlos Navarro. 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

University courses taught in the USA (at Creighton University, University of Illinois Springfield, and Western New Mexico University):

  • Business Statistics (100% On-Line).
  • Macroeconomics in a Global Economy (Macro Intermediate –  100% On-Line).
  • Introduction to Personal Financial Planning (100% Online)
  • Introductory Microeconomics (In-Classroom & 100% Online).
  • Introductory Macroeconomics (In-classroom & 100% Online).

University courses taught in Venezuela:

  • Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Accounting; Economic Theory; Microeconomics, Macroeconomics; International Trade; Public Budget; Applied Statistics; Advisor of Undergraduate Thesis. (In the Public Accountancy, Public Administration, Business Administration, and Management undergraduate programs)
  • Managerial and Costs Accountancy; Basic Accountancy; Management; Economic Theory. (In the Production Engineering, and Computer Sciences, undergraduate programs)
  • Management and Organizations in Venezuela; Public Finances; Quantitative Research Methods. (In the Master of Business & Finance, and Doctorate in Management programs)