Dr. Smith earned a PhD in Economics from the University of Georgia. His research applies microeconomic concepts to topics that involve risky behaviors, health outcomes, and crime and his work has been published in Health Economics, Economic Inquiry, B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, and the American Journal of Public Health. Much of his research focuses on the spillover effects of cannabis legalization and the impacts of cannabis dispensaries on the communities in which they locate. Dr. Smith is also involved with mentoring undergraduate students and involving students with conducting research. He supervises multiple student-driven research projects as part of the undergraduate econometrics course each academic year and has a published project with an undergraduate student in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization.

• Ph D in Economics, University of Georgia (2018)
• MA in Economics, Cleveland State University (2012)

• "The Impact of Medical Cannabis Laws on Commercial Health Insurer Individual Market Premiums, Claims, and Profitability." The B. E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 25 (4), (2025), Amanda C. Cook, Joshua D. Frederick, E T. Sirmans, Rhet A. Smith.
• "The Effects of Medical and Recreational Cannabis laws on Prescription Drug Claims." Health Economics, 34 (8), (2025), Amanda C. Cook, E T. Sirmans, Rhet A. Smith.
• "Main Street Business Initiatives and Crime in Small Towns." Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 209 (2023), Josiah Johnson, Rhet A. Smith.
• "Medical Cannabis and Automobile Accidents: Evidence from Auto Insurance." Health Economics, 31 (9), (2022), Cameron M. Ellis, Martin F. Grace, Rhet A. Smith, Juan Zhang.
• "The Effect of Medical Cannabis Laws on Pharmaceutical Marketing to Physicians." Health Economics, 30 (10), (2021), Thomas Lebesmuehlbacher, Rhet A. Smith.

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• Transporting Crime? Policy-Induced Migrant Busing and the Effects of Immigration on Crime (06/01/2025 - 12/31/2025) Woody L. Hunt College of Business 2025 Summer Research Incentive Program
• Medical Cannabis Law Permissiveness and Non-Medical Cannabis Consumption: Evidence From Florida (11/01/2025 - 11/30/2025) University of Texas at El Paso Research & Innovation Faculty Travel Incentive Program
• The Effect of Main Street Revitalization Initiatives on Crime: Evidence from Small Business Revolution (01/01/2022 - 05/31/2022) UA-Little Rock Jump Start Faculty Scholarship Award