Alumni Focus

This month's alumni focus is with Michael Collis (M.A., 2002), a Regional Economist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Little Rock, AR.

Q: How did you come to study economics at WMU?

MC: While studying economics as an undergraduate I decided that after I graduated I wanted to go into public service. I consulted with my professors at Oakland University and they all recommended the Masters program at WMU
to achieve this goal.

Q: How did a M.A. in economics prepare you for your current career?

MC: The logic and reasoning skills associated with studying economics has proven to be the best asset of my education. But in addition to these two skills the training in statistics and risk and uncertainty have also been invaluable.

Q: Describe what an economist does for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers?

MC: Economists have the opportunity to advance to the some of the most senior leadership levels of the Corps of Engineers. As a relatively young economist for the Corps, my duties mostly entail benefit and cost analysis for various civil and military projects. These analyses can be as simple as writing an opinion about the demographics of a project area to as complex as writing a technical appendix describing the impact of project benefits to the Nation.

Q: Recent news articles have discussed the Benefit-Cost analysis that the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers did in regard to the New Orleans levee system. Can you discuss benefit-cost analysis in general, and the New Orleans situation in particular?

MC: In general, benefit-to-cost analysis is exactly what it sounds like, the comparison of the two to determine if a project will be bring in more benefits to the country than it's costs. Now obviously, it is more difficult than it sounds, but Corps economists are provided with regulations to guide them through difficult analyses. For the most part projects are examined from two points of view. In the example of the levee and floodwall system that surrounds New Orleans the Corps may have (I say may have because the system was built about a 100 years ago) examined the consequences of having no levees or floodwalls. They would then examine the consequences of multiple alternatives that provide varying degrees of protection. The net benefits of the project would be the difference in the consequences. Once the net benefits are determined they can be compared to the costs of the alternatives and benefit-to-cost ratios can be calculated. All of this would be documented in a report to the Chief of Engineers and then provided to our elected officials to assist them in writing legislation.

If you would like to learn more about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, please contact Michael at Michael.J.Collis@swl02.usace.army.mil

Department of Economics, College of Arts & Sciences
5307, Friedmann Hall, 1903 West Michigan Avenue
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo MI 49008
Phone: (269)-387-5535 Fax: (269)-387-5637

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