Our biographies

Paul A. Coomes, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics
College of Business
University of Louisville, Louisville KY 40292
(O) 502-852-4841 (F) 502-852-7672 (H) 502-394-9017
paul.coomes@louisville.edu

Paul A. Coomes is Professor of Economics in the College of Business, University of Louisville. He is a graduate of Brescia College (BA), Indiana University (MS), and the University of Texas (Ph.D.). Professor Coomes came to the University of Louisville from Texas in 1985. He teaches courses in urban economics, forecasting, microeconomics and macroeconomics. He conducts research for both academic and commercial outlets. Most of his research concerns regional economics, economic development, and measurement problems. He has had university-based contract research arrangements with most of the large organizations in the region, including UPS, General Electric, Churchill Downs, LG&E, Louisville Water Company, Kentucky Fair Board, Jewish Hospital, and several state government cabinets. Coomes is past president of the Kentucky Economic Association.

Professor Coomes has completed several major projects that impact local economic development policy. One was the production of an economic development report to the community, a study that compares Louisville’s economic and social health to eighteen comparison metros. The study won first-place in the research publications category of the 1996 national competition sponsored by the American Economic Development Council, and has been since updated. He and his associate Barry Kornstein have created a web page providing data, maps, presentations, and copies of research reports. The URL is: http://monitor.louisville.edu

Paul lives with his wife in eastern Jefferson County. He is descended from William and Jane Coomes, who arrived in 1772 at Fort Harrod, Kentucky - where Jane became the first school teacher in the state. His hobbies include hiking, camping, cycling, and carpentry. His favorite quote is by Nobel Laureate Ronald Coase: "If you torture the data long enough, Nature confesses".

Barry J. Kornstein
Research Manager
College of Business
University of Louisville, Louisville KY 40292
(O) 502-852-4866 (F) 502-852-7672
bjkorn01@louisville.edu

Barry J. Kornstein is Research Manager in the College of Business, University of Louisville. He has BS degrees in mathematics and literature from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an MA in international studies from the Claremont Graduate University, and was working on his doctoral dissertation in political science at the University of Minnesota when he left to pursue other interests. Mr. Kornstein has been working with Prof. Coomes at the University of Louisville since 1993.

Barry lives with his lovely wife and adorable daughters in historic Old Louisville. Originally from Los Angeles, he keeps his watch on Pacific time. He enjoys hiking, camping, basketball, softball, and fixing up his old house. He competes in Masters level track and field, was the Head Track Coach at Assumption High School in Louisville for thirteen years (winning a State Championship in 2005) and is currently an assistant coach for jumps and sprints there.