ECONOMICS · ANALYSIS · PROBLEM-SOLVING
I’m David Sneddon. I bring economics training and practical business experience to questions about data, operations, and decision-making. I enjoy investigating problems, making sense of information, and building tools that make work more efficient.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration · Major in Economics
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
My work has included combining sales, distributor, and market data, investigating discrepancies, and using the results to support forecasts and customer planning.
My economics coursework and research extend that practical experience into quantitative modeling, geographic comparisons, and clear presentation of results.
In insurance operations, I’ve built database tools and automated reporting to make staffing, licensing, and training information easier to use. My background also includes claims investigation, account management, and sales operations.
I’ve supervised a claims team and led a multistate sales division. That experience gives me context for how analytical recommendations are used in day-to-day work.
SELECTED WORK · INDEPENDENT PROJECT
Economic information, brought together.
I wanted one place to explore economic conditions, nationally and locally. Economic Observatory brings together economic indicators, historical trends, and geographic comparisons in a dashboard built for that purpose.
I directed the choice of data and sources and used an LLM to help develop the code. The project combines my interests in economics and practical tools for exploring information.
Project direction, source selection, and AI-assisted development
This is an independent personal project, provided as-is without warranties about accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. Data may be delayed, revised, or unavailable, and errors may occur in collection, processing, or presentation. Consult the original source and its methodology before relying on a figure.
The complete data-source listing identifies the original publishers, intermediaries, datasets, and series. Source inspection within the dashboard provides additional context and retrieval information.
RESEARCH & WRITING
These academic projects show how I frame questions, work with evidence, and communicate an argument. Topics connect economics, geography, institutions, and policy; each sample retains its original course context and date.
ECONOMETRICS · R · QUARTO
A study of Canada–U.S. trade using a gravity model and 2019 regional data. Combines data preparation, geographic distance calculations, regression models, and a written interpretation.
Academic project · 2024
Read project overviewURBAN ECONOMICS · RESEARCH
Research on the relationship between proximity to a city and intergenerational mobility. Connects a practical question about access to opportunity with economic literature and quantitative analysis.
Academic paper · December 2024
Read the paper (PDF)ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS · ECONOMIC REASONING
An essay applying ideas of scarcity, marginal utility, and economizing behavior to forests, land use, and environmental policy.
Academic essay · July 2024
Read the paper (PDF)INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS · POLICY ANALYSIS
An examination of cross-strait relations through opportunity costs, economic interdependence, political incentives, and deterrence.
Academic essay · November 2024
Read the paper (PDF)BEYOND WORK
First principles, competing explanations, and the connections between them.
I’m interested in how systems work, how they developed, and the decisions that shaped them. That curiosity connects subjects I enjoy exploring: economics, history, government, constitutional law, philosophy, and technology. I like working back to first principles, comparing competing explanations, and understanding the tradeoffs behind different approaches.
In economics, my interests include labor markets, inflation, economic history, public policy, and quantitative analysis. Economic Observatory grew out of wanting one place to explore national and local economic conditions. My interest in political history and philosophy follows related questions about incentives, individual liberty, ethics, and legitimate authority, particularly how institutions acquire power and how its exercise is justified.
I also enjoy computing history, electronics, programming, and exploring AI’s capabilities and limitations. I’m interested in both how technologies function and why particular designs or business strategies succeeded. Building tools, experimenting with hardware, and working through technical problems give me ways to put those questions into practice. Linux, self-hosting, networking, and security are part of that hands-on exploration.
For recreation, I enjoy role-playing games, retro gaming and emulation, and flight simulation. Those interests often lead back to questions about game mechanics, probability, hardware, and software compatibility.
My wife, son, and our two dogs are an important part of my life. Alongside my professional work and personal projects, I value time with my family and the everyday life we share.
GET IN TOUCH
For opportunities involving analysis, research, or business operations—or a conversation about my work—reach me by email or connect on LinkedIn.