Byron Gangnes

Byron Gangnes, Professor of Economics
University of Hawaii

Byron Gangnes is Professor of Economics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Director of the Forecast Project for the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO). At UH, he teaches and conducts research in macroeconomics, international finance and economic forecasting. He is among the leading authorities on the economy of Hawaii and is frequently called upon to speak to the media, government leaders and community groups about economic prospects for the global, national and local economies.

Byron received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Puget Sound and his Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. He has held visiting appointments at Yokohama National University, HEC‑Montreal, Singapore Management University, and the University of Toronto. Since 1989, he has been an affiliated researcher with Project LINK, the United Nations cooperative macroeconomic forecasting program.

While his research interests are eclectic, Byron’s primary focus has been on international economic policy issues, particularly those affecting the U.S. and Asian economies. Recent publications include articles looking at the potential impact of high oil prices on Chinese exports, on the effectiveness of US economic stimulus programs, and on the development of global production networks in electronics. He has published extensively on the US‑Japanese relationship and co‑edited the 2001 volume, Japan’s New Economy: Continuity and Change in the 21st Century.

As a result of Byron’s extensive outreach activities, he was co‑recipient of the University of Hawaii’s Hung Wo and Elizabeth Lau Ching Award for Faculty Service to the Community. He has also been honored with a College of Social Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award. He is an alumni member of Phi Beta Kappa and has served on the Board of Directors of St. Francis School, Honolulu, and as a Trustee of the Friends of the Library of Hawaii.

Byron lives in Honolulu with his wife, Hilary. They have two adult daughters living in the Mid‑Western US.