Mercatus Center at George Mason University

The Mercatus Center is now accepting applications for two Research Fellow positions focused on the future of scientific discovery.

We're looking for rising classical liberal thinkers with substantial expertise in science, technology, and innovation. During the year-long program, scholars will develop original research, receive intensive communications training, work closely with mentors, and produce public-facing writing and multimedia content.

Questions about AI, emerging technologies, science funding, and innovation are increasingly shaping public debate. These conversations need people who can connect technical expertise with questions about institutions, incentives, governance, and human flourishing.

The goal is not only to support research, but to help develop the next generation of scholars capable of bringing market-oriented thinking and classical liberal ideas to important conversations about science and technological change.

Applications are now open.

📍 Full-time in Arlington, Virginia
📅 September 2026 – September 2027

Learn more and apply here:

Future of Scientific Discovery Emerging Scholars ...

AI progress was expected to hit a wall as reinforcement learning became harder and more expensive to scale.

That slowdown hasn’t happened.

In a recent piece, Mercatus Research Fellow Elsie Jang explores why reinforcement learning (RL), where models learn through feedback and rewards, continues to produce rapid advances in AI capability.

Responding to a question from writer and podcaster Dwarkesh Patel, she argues that new RL environments keep creating fresh opportunities for capability gains, while larger and more powerful models continue to benefit from advances in pretraining.

Read the full piece: https://bit.ly/4dWdPKN

Why AI progress has not slowed My attempt at Dwarkesh’s first question

In his latest Economic Situation report, Mercatus scholar Bruce Yandle argues that uncertainty can be a significant obstacle to investment and long-term planning.

The report examines how businesses respond to uncertain economic conditions, alongside broader questions about federal debt, inflation, economic growth, and the changing role of government in the economy.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Yandle also reflects on how the nation's economic institutions have evolved and what that evolution may mean for future prosperity.

📖 Read the policy brief: https://bit.ly/4xkZW1V

The Economic Situation: June 2026 Getting StartedIn just a few days, we will celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The nation’s longevity is probably more than the founders expected.

Each year, the Mercatus Staff Unconference brings colleagues from across the organization to Arlington, VA for conversations that strengthen our work and mission.

This year’s American Road Trip theme brought together scholars, producers, operations teams, research fellows, interns, and colleagues from across the country for sessions on resilience, classical liberalism, AI, and the role our work plays in society.

More than a networking event, the Unconference creates space for the in-person conversations and intellectual exchange that sustain strong institutions and collaborative work.

Thanks to everyone who organized sessions, shared ideas, and made this year’s gathering such a success.

📷 Chris Williams, Zoeica Images

Can federalism still preserve liberty in modern society?

At Humane Pursuits, Mercatus Research Fellow Garrett Brown interviews economist Richard E. Wagner to discuss the rise, and possible limits, of American federalism.

Wagner, a longtime George Mason University professor and author of the Mercatus-published American Federalism: How Well Does It Support Liberty?, explains how federalism differs from simple decentralization, why the Anti-Federalists feared centralized power, and how constitutional limits can gradually change over time without formal amendments.

Read the full conversation:

Richard E. Wagner on the Rise and Limits of American Federalism A conversation on constitutional design, the expansion of federal power, and the changing moral foundations of American governance

More Americans are building flexible careers on their own terms.

But for many, that also means taking on more uncertainty without the safety nets tied to traditional jobs.

These are real workers talking about what this kind of work makes possible, and what can still feel uncertain.

In her new feature, Liya Palagashvili follows workers navigating that reality in their own words.

We’re hiring a Marketing Manager at the Mercatus Center.

This role is a great fit for a mission-driven marketer who wants to amplify the reach of our scholars' work through email campaigns, event promotions, and social media — helping serious ideas reach the audiences who need them most. You'll collaborate with scholars, program teams, and designers, and have real ownership of projects from strategy through ex*****on.

Genuine interest in classical liberal and free-market ideas required.
Hybrid role based in Arlington, VA.

Interested? Apply through Talent Market: https://bit.ly/4dNFuh3