Jen Baggs

Biography

Dr. Jen Baggs is an economist working with the Gustavson School of Business. Her primary research interests are in international trade and industrial organization. Her current research explores how free trade agreements and exchange rate fluctuations affect firm survival, growth and financial structure; the effects of competition on incentive based contracts, effort and performance; and immigrants in the Canadian workforce.

Jen conducts her research in association with Statistics Canada. Her research offer insights as to how Canadian businesses can both take advantage of the opportunities, and insulate themselves from the threats, created by freer trade and fluctuating currencies. She is a winner of the European Association for Research in Industrial Economics Young Economists' Award, and the Canadian Economics Association’s Robert Mundell Prize. Jen has a cross-appointment with the Department of Economics and teaches in the areas of international business, statistics and economics.

Before joining the University of Victoria, she was an assistant professor at Queen’s University.

Teaching

Courses taught

• International Business (BCom)
• Managerial Economics (MBA)
• Data Analysis (MBA)

Selected publications

Forthcoming

Fitzsimmons, S., Baggs, J. & Brannen, M.Y. (forthcoming) Intersectional Arithmetic: How Gender, Race and Mother Tongue Combine to Impact Immigrants’ Work Outcomes. Journal of World Business.

Published

Baggs, J., Fung, L., & Lapham, B. (2018). Exchange rates, cross-border travel, and retailers: Theory and empirics. Journal of International Economics, 115, 59–79.

Baggs, J., Beaulieu, E., Fung, L., & Lapham, B. (2016). Firm Dynamics in Retail Trade: The Response of Canadian Retailers to Exchange Rate Shocks. Review of International Economics, 24, 635–666.

Baggs, J., Beaulieu, E., & Fung, L. (2014). Persistent Effects of Transitory Exchange Rate Shocks on Firm Dynamics. Contemporary Economic Policy, 32(2), 334–350.

Baggs, J., de Bettignies, J., & Ries, J. (2013). Product Market Competition and Returns to Talent. Journal of Economics and Management Strategy, 22(3), 569–593.

Fung, L., Baggs, J., & Beaulieu, E. (2011). Plant Scale and Exchange-Rate-Induced Productivity Growth. Journal of Economics and Management Strategy, 20(4), 1197–1230.

Baggs, J., Beaulieu, E., & Fung, L. (2010). Are Service Firms Affected by Exchange Rate Movements? Review of Income and Wealth, Special Issue: Improving Inflation and Related Performance Measures for Nations, 56(Issue Supplement S1), S156–S176.

Baggs, J., Beaulieu, E., & Fung, L. (2009). Firm Survival, Performance, and Exchange Rate. Canadian Journal of Economics, 42(2), 393–421.

Baggs, J. (2009). International Trade in Hazardous Waste. Review of International Economics, 17(1), 1–16.

Baggs, J., & de Bettignies, J.-E. (2007). Product Market Competition and Agency Costs. Journal of Industrial Economics,55(2), 289–323.

Baggs, J., & Brander, J. (2006). Trade liberalization, profitability, and financial leverage. Journal of International Business Studies, 37(2), 196–211.

Baggs, J. (2005). Firm Survival and Exit in Response to Trade Liberalization. Canadian Journal of Economics, 38(4), 1364–1383.

Awards & grants

Recognition & awards

• 2012 -  Best Reviewer Award, Academy of International Business Conference
• 2006 - Robert Mundell Prize, Canadian Journal of Economics
• 2002 - Young Economist Essay Award, European Association for Research in Industrial Economics

Grants

• A Theoretical and Empirical Examination of the Exposure of Canadian Retailers to Cross-Border Shopping, Funded by Industry Canada (April 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014), awarded April 1, 2013 ($15,000.00), Completed, Spring 2014, PI Loretta Fung with CoInvestigator Jen Baggs, CoInvestigator Bev Lapham
  
  
• An Examination of the Effects of Changes in International Factors on the Canadian Retail Sector, Funded by SSHRC (April 1, 2011 - March 31, 2014), awarded April 1, 2011 ($90,000.00), Completed, Spring 2014, PI Bev Lapham with CoInvestigator Jen Baggs, CoInvestigator Loretta Fung
  
  
• The Impact of Large Real Exchange Rate Movements on Firm Performance and Productivity Growth, Funded by SSHRC (April 1, 2007 - March 31, 2010), awarded April 1, 2007 ($39,992.00), Completed, Spring 2010, CoInvestigator Jen Baggs with PI E Beaulieu, CoInvestigator L Fung
  
  
• The effects of product-market competition and trade costs on firm structure and productivity, Funded by SSHRC (April 1, 2008 - March 31, 2011), awarded April 1, 2008 ($74,500.00), Completed, Spring 2008, PI John Ries with CoInvestigator Jen Baggs, CoInvestigator Jean de Bettignies