Assistant Professor
Department of Economics

Rex Sitti

757-683-3961

2004 CONSTANT HALL
NORFOLK, 23529

I am a public economist specializing in urban and health economics. My research focuses on the effectiveness of different housing and safety net programs. Recently, I completed a project on the societal impacts of homeless shelters. My research findings challenge anecdotal claims that homeless shelters decrease the property values of a neighborhood. I am currently evaluating two safety net programs. The first project involves a cost analysis of Medicaid peer support services for individuals recovering from substance use disorders. The second project investigates the implications of the Earned Income Tax Credit on consumer food choices. My main goal is to provide policymakers with data-driven insights to improve the management of public resources for the benefit of low-income and vulnerable populations. I graduated with an MA. and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of New Mexico in 2024, an MBA from the University of Memphis in 2015, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from Kenyatta University in 2011.

Ph.D. in Economics, University of New Mexico, (2024)

M.A. in Economics, University of New Mexico, (2019)

M.B.A. in International Business, University of Memphis, (2015)

B.B.A. in Finance, Kenyatta University, (2011)

Expertise

Economics
Housing
Economics
Economic Costs of Safety net Programs

Research Interests

My research interests include supportive housing and homelessness, societal impacts of housing, cost analysis of safety-net programs such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, substance use disorder treatment programs, and Medicaid, and the economics of food away/ at home.

Articles

A Review of the Literature on Neighborhood Impacts of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and Emergency Shelters for People Experiencing Homelessness.
(2022). Valuing fishing access on Lake Victoria鈥檚 Winam Gulf: A hedonic pricing model.

Presentations

(March , 2023). The Impact of Homeless Shelters and Property Values .
(June , 2022). Does EITC Influence Budget Allocation between Food Away and at Home? .
(July , 2021). Public Health Expenditure on Life Expectancy: Evidence from Selected OECD States .
(November , 2020). Descriptive Study of Access to Substance Use Treatment in New Mexico .
(April , 2019). Fast food versus a healthy diet: food choices for SNAP, WIC, and EIT .
  • 2023: Southern Economic Association Travel Award, Southern Economic Association
  • 2023: Michelle Elizabeth Canaday Memorial Endowed Scholarshi, The University of New Mexico
  • 2020: Departmental Three Minutes Research Competition Awar, The University of New Mexico
  • 2020: Outstanding Research Award, Michigan State University & American Economic Association
  • 2020: Project for New Mexico Graduates of Color (PNMGC) Scholarship, The University of New Mexico
  • 2018: Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival (FLEFF) Fellowship, Ithaca University

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