Moyara Ruehsen
Associate Professor
Professor Ruehsen is an award-winning instructor, who has given guest lectures throughout the U.S. and overseas. She received three graduate degrees from Johns Hopkins University (MHS, MA, PhD) and then spent a post-doctoral year in 1993 at the University of California, Berkeley. An economist by training and a certified anti-money laundering specialist (CAMS), for the past seventeen years she has since been teaching courses on international trade and finance, anti-money laundering and most recently, counter-terrorist financing policies.
Dr. Ruehsen's regional expertise is the Middle East, where she spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar in Bahrain. She has also studied at Yarmouk University in Jordan.
Her current research focuses on money laundering policies in Europe and drug trafficking in the Golden Crescent region of Asia. Professor Ruehsen has published in a variety of academic journals and professional periodicals. She has been a regular contributor to Money Laundering Alert, and also serves as a consultant to the US government and the private sector.
Expertise
Money laundering, terrorism financing, illegal drug markets, political economy, Middle Eastern economies
Dr. Ruehsen interviewed live on KSBW.
Education
PhD, International Economics and Middle East Studies, Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS); MA, International Studies, MHS, International Health, BA, Social Science, Johns Hopkins University; CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist)
Publications
"Afghanistan's Drug War - The Farmers Aren't the Enemy." LA Times 2 November 2009.
“Arab Government Responses to the Threat of Terrorist Financing,” Chapter in J. Giraldo and H. Trinkunas, Terrorism Financing and State Responses in Comparative Perspective, Stanford University Press, Fall 2007.
“Choosing an Appropriate Palestinian Monetary Regime.” Research in Middle East Economics Volume 6, 2005, pp. 183-199.
“Diamonds Are a Terrorist’s Best Friend,” moneylaundering.com, (September 2004).
“Little Noticed UN Report Cites Alleged Saudi Terrorist Financing,” Money Laundering Alert, (October 2003).
“Dirty Laundering: Financing Latin America’s Drug Trade,” (review essay) in Harvard International Review, (Winter 2003).
“The Fallacy of Sanctions,” Middle East Insight (March-April 2002).
“Tracing al-Qaeda’s Money,” Middle East Insight (January-February 2002).
“Suspected UAE Links to Terrorist Funds Spark Anti-Laundering Efforts,” Money Laundering Alert (December 2001).
“Arab Naming Customs Complicate Screening for Suspected Terrorists,” Money Laundering Alert (December 2001).
Courses
Courses offered in the past four years.
▲ indicates offered in the current term
▹ indicates offered in the upcoming term[s]
ECPR 8500 - Economics Preparation-Micro
This intensive course in introductory microeconomics places emphasis on the fundamental principles necessary for success in International Economics (IPOL 8520), Development Economics (IPOL 8551) and Environmental & Natural Resource Economics (IPOL 8542). This course will examine the allocation of resources in different kinds of economies. Topics include the production possibilities curve, competitive markets, elasticities, monopoly, market failures, and the role of government.
Spring 2010 - MIIS, Summer 2010 - MIIS, Spring 2011 - MIIS
ECPR 8501 - Economics Preparation-Macro ▲
This intensive course in introductory macroeconomics places emphasis on the fundamental principles necessary for success in International Economics (IPOL 8520), Development Economics (IPOL 8551) and Money Laundering & Terrorism Finance (IPOL 8555). In this course, we examine how the overall level of national economic activity is determined, including output, employment, and inflation. We explore the roles of monetary and fiscal policies in stabilizing the economy and promoting growth, with a focus on contemporary policy debates.
Summer 2010 - MIIS, Spring 2011 - MIIS, Summer 2011 - MIIS, Spring 2012 - MIIS
IMGT 8520 - Topics in Intl Economics ▲
The first part of this course looks at both the theory and practice of international trade. Topics include an analysis of the gains from free trade and the effects of barriers to trade such as tariffs, quotas, subsidies, and other instruments of commercial policy. The second part of the course focuses on international monetary theory and exchange rate determination, as well as macroeconomic policymaking in an open economy. Topics include balance of payments analysis, emerging market currency crises, exchange rate regimes such as monetary unions, and more. The course will stress concepts and their application rather than theoretical formalism.
Spring 2012 - MIIS
IPOL 8520 - International Economics
The first part of this course looks at both the theory and practice of international trade. Topics include an analysis of the gains from free trade and the effects of barriers to trade such as tariffs, quotas, subsidies, and other instruments of commercial policy. The second part of the course focuses on international monetary theory and exchange rate determination, as well as macroeconomic policymaking in an open economy. Topics include balance of payments analysis, emerging market currency crises, exchange rate regimes such as monetary unions, and more.
Spring 2010 - MIIS, Spring 2011 - MIIS, Fall 2011 - MIIS
IPOL 8555 - Money Laundering&TerrorFinance ▲
This course will examine the different techniques employed in the three stages of money laundering (placement, layering and integration), the macroeconomic impacts of money laundering, the legal framework, the latest law enforcement strategies, and techniques employed by terrorist groups to move funds and their sources of funds. Examples will be taken from organized criminal groups around the world, and many different terrorist groups (as designated by the U.S. OFAC). Investigation and risk scoring techniques will also be introduced.
Fall 2010 - MIIS, Spring 2012 - MIIS
IPOL 8580 - Public Speakng 4 Polcy Careers
This course is designed for GSIPM students who are already perfectly fluent in English, but who wish to refine their public speaking and presentation skills. Modules will include communicating on television, working with simultaneous and consecutive interpreters, facilitating discussions, trainings and meetings, public relations and press conferences, presenting and receiving awards, pitching a proposal, debate skills, speaking to motivate or to persuade, pecha-kucha presentations, and impromptu speaking skills. Most of the exercises will be videotaped and critiqued by both the instructor and peers.
Fall 2010 - MIIS
IPOL 8613 - Sem: Illicit Drug Markets ▲
This course is divided into two segments. The first segment of the course covers illegal drug markets along their entire transaction chain from the growing regions of Latin America and Asia to the end-user markets. Emphasis is placed on the international markets for cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines, and the negative impacts of trafficking and use. The second segment examines the cost-effectiveness and viability of different supply and demand strategies, ranging from crop eradication and border interdiction to treatment and prevention.
Fall 2010 - MIIS, Spring 2012 - MIIS
IPOL 8619 - Sem:Econ Anlysis:Emerging Mkts
This seminar is designed to provide students with critical skills in the area of economic analysis and writing. It will also be an opportunity to go into more depth on several important economic policy issues such as sovereign debt, foreign direct investment, capital account liberalization, trade liberalization and facilitation, and exchange rate policy. Students will pick one country and write an extensive economic analysis of that country by way of several assignments during the course of the semester.
Spring 2011 - MIIS, Fall 2011 - MIIS
