Dr. Melvin Burke
Professor of Economics
School of Economics

In 1967 Melvin Burke received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pittsburgh. For 43 years he has been a faculty member in the Department of Economics at the University of Maine. Professor Burke has also taught at San Andres University (Bolivia), the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico, the United States International University (London) and elsewhere during his career.

Professor Burke has received numerous competitive scholarships including two Fulbrights, a Senior Fulbright-Hayes to Mexico in 1977 and an Inter-American Foundation Grant to Bolivia in 1982. He has also consulted with the U.S. Agency for International Development in various countries over the years, including in Bolivia during the years 1969, 1973, and 1981. He worked for the United Nations in El Salvador (1976) and for the private consulting firms, Practical Concepts Inc. in Bolivia (1981), the Barents Group in Krygzstan (1995) and elsewhere. More recently, he has publicly testified before the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (2005) and the Maine Land Use Regulatory Commission (2008).

Among Professor Burke's numerous publications are included the books: Estudios Criticos del Neoliberalismo (Bolivia, 2001); Estudios Criticos de la Economia Boliviana (Bolivia. 1973); The Economics of Environmental Improvement (Boston, 1973). Published articles include: "The Human Costs of NAFTA" (Humanist, 1993); "Bolivia: the Politics of Cocaine" (Current History, 1991); "Does For for Peace Assistance Damage the Bolivian Economy" (Inter-American Economic Affairs, 1971). Professor Burke was also the principal researcher and author of many government and academic reports. His areas of specialization are in the economic development, project analysis, foreign trade and finance, globalization, privatization, waste management and land use economics.

The University of Maine congratulates Mel for his dedication to his work and wishes him the very best retirement.