Prof. Eduardo Minuci

Applied Economist

I study labor markets, productivity, team composition, and institutional rules in professional sports, with broader implications for firms and teams. Assistant Professor at North Carolina A&T State University.

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Eduardo G. Minuci

About Me

Brazilian-born, U.S.-trained, obsessed with how the game really works

I’m Eduardo Minuci (Eddy to colleagues), an Assistant Professor of Economics at North Carolina A&T State University. My research focuses on sports labor markets — NBA and WNBA contracts, college basketball labor rules, NIL effects on competitive balance, and the institutional rules that shape player careers.

I earned my PhD in Economics from West Virginia University in 2021 and my B.A. summa cum laude from Winthrop University. I also work one-on-one with students and early-career professionals breaking into the field; past mentees have moved on to Harvard Law School, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and selective national fellowships.

At a Glance

  • Position: Assistant Professor of Economics, NC A&T State University
  • Ph.D. Economics, West Virginia University (2021), 4.0 GPA
  • M.A. Economics, West Virginia University (2019)
  • B.A. Economics (Summa Cum Laude), Winthrop University (2016)
  • Focus: Sports economics, labor markets, talent valuation
  • Citizenship: United States & Brazil

Awards

  • 2025: Top Paper Award, ICA Convention
  • 2024: Junior Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, NC A&T
  • 2024: Academic Advising Excellence Award, NC A&T
  • 2020: Best Doctoral Economics Student, WVU

Research

Sports labor markets · Talent evaluation & compensation · Institutional rules & league outcomes · NBA, WNBA, and college basketball

Published Papers

Sports labor markets

The Role of Off-Season Play, COVID-19, and the 2020 CBA in WNBA Career Continuity

Minuci, E. G., & Rubenstein, K. (Forthcoming). Eastern Economic Journal.

Should more teams "trust the process" of tanking?

Minuci, E. G., Cardazzi, A., & Johnson, C. (2026). Contemporary Economic Policy, 44(2), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1111/coep.12705

The impact of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement on wage discrimination in the NBA

Minuci, E. G., & Johnson, C. (2024). Applied Economics, 57(5), 543–546. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2024.2305608

Wage discrimination in the NBA: Evidence using free agent signings

Johnson, C., & Minuci, E. (2020). Southern Economic Journal, 87(2), 517–539. https://doi.org/10.1002/soej.12461

Finance & banking

Are West Virginia (or other states') banks unique?

Minuci, E., & Schuh, S. (2026). Contemporary Economic Policy, 44(2), 1–36. https://doi.org/10.1111/coep.70014

The relationship between the Dodd–Frank Act and the cost efficiency of US banks

Minuci, E. G. (2025). Economic Notes, 54, e70008. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecno.70008

Does uniqueness matter for community banks?

Minuci, E. G., & Rodriguez, Z. (2024). Journal of Economics and Finance, 48, 947–977. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12197-024-09684-9

Shill bidding and trust

McCannon, B. C., & Minuci, E. (2020). Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 26, 100279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbef.2020.100279

Education, communication & methods

Instructor active empathetic listening and its impact on students' math anxiety

Minuci, E. G., Kelly, S., Burkey, M. L., & Ducking, J. (2025). Communication Reports, 38(3), 153–167. https://doi.org/10.1080/08934215.2025.2451895

Understanding student burnout in quantitative reasoning courses

Kelly, S., Minuci, E. G., Ducking, J., & Romero, A. (2024). Communication Quarterly, 73(1), 115–132. https://doi.org/10.1080/01463373.2024.2438835

A data envelopment analysis of West Virginia school districts

Minuci, E., Ferreira Neto, A. B., & Hall, J. (2019). Heliyon, 5(7), e01990. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01990

Under Review

Determinants of Contracts and Wages in the Women's National Basketball Association

with Z. Rodriguez, Revise & Resubmit

Are Players on Rookie Contracts Underpaid or Overpaid?

with J. Ducking and C. Johnson

Works in Progress

The Impact of Professional Sports Facilities on the Local Banking Industry

with B. Humphreys and C. Johnson

Determinants of WNBA Mid-Season Signings and Their Impact on Team Performance

with K. Rubenstein

Talent at a Discount: Estimating the Market Value of WNBA Rookies

with K. Rubenstein and K. Gershon

Taxes, Amenities, and Race: The Role of State Taxes and Local Amenities in the Difference between Salaries by Race in the NBA

with J. Ducking and C. Johnson

Does the Transfer Portal Erode Team Chemistry? The Impact of the Transfer Portal on Team Performance and Competitive Balance


Teaching

Creating an engaging learning environment that fosters a growth mindset

Research-Driven Learning

Students critique published studies, develop testable hypotheses, and work with real-world datasets, building analytical skills that transfer beyond the classroom.

Empirical Methods

From econometrics to data visualization, courses emphasize hands-on application of quantitative tools to economic questions.

Sports as a Laboratory

Professional sports provide rich, publicly available data, an ideal setting for students to practice economic analysis on questions they care about.

Growth Mindset

A values-based approach that helps students identify their aspirations, develop strategic plans, and progress from foundational to advanced economic reasoning.

Courses at NC A&T (Fall 2021–Present)

ECON 330: Sports Economics In-person
ECON 315: Money and Banking Online
ECON 201: Principles of Macroeconomics In-person
ECON 200: Principles of Microeconomics In-person & Online

Previous: West Virginia University

BADM 618: Macro and Managerial Economics (Graduate) Online
ECON 302: Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory In-person & Online
ECON 331: Money and Banking In-person
ECON 202: Principles of Macroeconomics In-person & Online
ECON 200: Survey of Economics Online

Certifications & Credentials

NBA CBA Mastery 2.0 with Bobby Marks Industry
Sports Business Classroom on Demand 2025
ACUE Teaching with A.I. Certificate 2024
AEA EDUCATE Workshop 2023
ACUE Certificate of Effective College Instruction 2020

Consulting

Applied economics for executives and firm leaders


Mentoring & Advising

One-on-one guidance for students and early-career professionals

Mentees have earned Harry S. Truman Scholarship (first in NC A&T history) RFK John Lewis Young Leaders Fellowship (1 of 15 nationally) Harvard Law School Federal Reserve Bank of Boston BLK Capital Management AEA Summer Program at Howard

Values-Based Career Alignment

Career planning works best when it starts with what you actually value, not with what others say you should value. We explore your highest values and use them as the foundation for academic and career decisions. The work centers on you — what fits your priorities, what builds the life you want, what sustains your motivation past the first hard week.

Career Strategy

Considering economics PhD programs, public policy, banking, finance, law school, or industry research roles? We map where you want to go, what you’d need to get there, and how each path fits the priorities you’ve identified.

Econometrics & Empirical Methods

Causal inference, applied econometrics, and empirical work with real datasets across sports, labor, finance, policy, and education. Sessions are hands-on — you build the skills by working through actual problems, not by watching someone else solve them.

Research Guidance

Working on an undergrad thesis, independent project, or first conference paper? Together we find the gap in the literature, conduct a critical literature review, evaluate feasibility, scope the question, choose the right methods, and shape the writing.

Graduate & Professional School Prep

Applying to PhD or master’s programs in economics, public policy, or law school? You’ll move through school selection, drafting personal statements, choosing writing samples, and navigating the application process — with feedback at each step.

Fellowships & Scholarships

Truman Scholarship, RFK John Lewis Young Leaders Fellowship, AEA Summer Program, and other competitive national programs. We look at which programs fit your goals and what a thoughtful, competitive application looks like.

AI Skills for Students

How to use AI tools across research, writing, and job-prep work without shortcutting the learning. Practical workflows for undergrads and early-career professionals.

Ready to work together? Let’s talk.

Get in Touch

Curriculum Vitae

Full academic CV available for download

Download CV (PDF)

Contact

Get in touch

Eduardo G. Minuci

Assistant Professor of Economics

North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro, NC

Academic: egminuci@ncat.edu

Firm inquiries: eddy@minuciadvisory.com

For Minuci Advisory engagements, see minuciadvisory.com.

Personal: minucieg@gmail.com