Norman Obst was a faculty member in the Department from 1973 until his retirement in 2017. Norm joined the faculty at Michigan State after four years in the Economics Department at the University of Washington. He received his BA in mathematics from Binghamton University – SUNY in 1965 and his MA and Ph.D. in economics from Purdue University in 1967 and 1970.
Obst specialized in economic theory with an interest in monetary economics including an emphasis on financial markets. His research includes work on optimal Federal Reserve monetary policy with publications in the top economics journals. A fundamental goal of his has been the development of macroeconomic theory that brings about real-world policy solutions free from ideological bias.
Norm at times taught large numbers of students many years in introductory macroeconomics. His more than 46 years of teaching included students in Ph.D. and MBA graduate courses and in and advanced undergraduate courses, as well. He authored two online courses and a web-enhanced course that teaches advanced skills of economic analysis mostly to beginning undergraduates.
Obst served as coach of MSU’s Federal Reserve Challenge team.
Norman Obst served on many local government commissions and boards, including 12 years as Township Supervisor of Williamstown Township, an elected public office.
Norm and his wife Barbara live in Williamstown.