UM-Flint Professor Blogs His Way to National Notoriety

Mark Perry is no stranger to notoriety. As the author of the long-running Genesee County Business Index, Perry, a professor of finance and business economics at the School of Management, University of Michigan-Flint was often quoted in the local media on "local economic issues. His "Op-Ed" pieces on timely economic issues were run in major newspapers around the country. However, it was his idea to begin a blog called "Carpe Diem" that exposed his economic philosophy to the world.

"It's amazing who is visiting my blog," said Perry. "There are even regular visits from the White House. And South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint featured one of my blog postings at a Congressional hearing last summer."

One of those who took notice of the blog was supply-side economist Larry Kudlow, who hosts CNBC's "Kudlow and Company", which airs weeknights at 7 p.m. Eastern time, and WABC's "The Larry Kudlow Radio Show" from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

About two months ago, Perry traveled to Troy to use a production studio that could uplink a TV signal and was a guest on Kudlow's popular TV show. Since that initial appearance last summer, he has been invited back frequently to CNBC's "Kudlow and Company" and is currently schedule for a guest appearance this week. This past Saturday, December 15, Perry spent much of the morning as a guest on his WABC radio show, and Kudlow and Perry exchange emails now on almost a daily basis to discuss economic and financial issues.

"We must have done six or seven segments discussing the national economy, world economy, subprime, globalization, inflation, recession fears, etc. I was the only guest, so it was just Kudlow and I talking and taking calls from listeners… He really plugged my blog, UM-Flint, and the School of Management," said Perry. Kudlow has referred to Perry's blog on his TV show on a regular basis over the past few months.

"Professor Perry has done a great job furthering both the name and reputation of this school and the university," said John Helmuth, dean of the University of Michigan-Flint School of Management. "Mark is gaining attention among the "movers and shakers" in the economic world by being a sought after guest by the national media."