Mercatus Center Academic & Student Programs

Does foreign aid impact a country's economic freedom? Jamie Bologna Pavlik, PhD Alum Benjamin Powell, and Andrew T. Young use matching methods to investigate this causal relationship, finding no significant effect of overall aid on economic freedom.

Does Aid Cause Changes in Economic Freedom? We examine whether aid affects recipient countries’ economic freedom. The existing empirical literature examining this relationship has found conflicting results. However, all of these existing studies have struggled to employ plausible identification strategies to find a causal relationship betwe...

How do bureaucracies navigate conflicting mandates? Ryan Yonk, PhD Alum Jordan Lofthouse, and Chayce Kenny scrutinize the Elliott State Forest case, revealing the challenges of balancing revenue generation, endangered species protection, and public benefits.

Bureaucratic Responses to Conflicting Mandates: The Case of the Elliott State Forest Federal, state, and local government agencies are often tasked with managing conflicting legislative, administrative, and public demands. Without clear direction on how to manage these conflicting interests, a bureaucracy often struggles to determine an optimal outcome. The Elliott State Forest in s...

Does economic freedom boost philanthropy? Jeremy Jackson and PhD Alum Scott Beaulier investigate the strong correlation between economic freedom and charitable giving in America.

Economic Freedom and Philanthropy The correlations between economic freedom and human capabilities (e.g., income, health, education, happiness) are robust and well-documented. Using panel data for US charitable donations from itemized tax returns and the Economic Freedom of North America (EFNA) Index, we examine the state-level corr...

Explore the cultural dimensions of norms with Elinor Ostrom!

Ostrom, Elinor. 1998. "A Behavioral Approach to the Rational Choice Theory of Collective Action: Presidential Address, American Political Science Association, 1997." American Political Science Review 92, no. 1: 9.

New episode! Check out the latest of the Hayek Program Podcast featuring Morgenstern Alum Katie Wright on sustainability and solving water scarcity in the Western United States!

Environmental Economics — Katie Wright on Sustainability and Water Scarcity Continuing our series on Enviromental Economics, host

What role do shared mental models play in economic outcomes? PhD Alum Diana Thomas, William F. Shughart II, and Michael D. Thomas delve into the impact of ideologies and social norms on economics.

Institutional Change and the Importance of Understanding Shared Mental Models Arthur Denzau and Douglass North’s paper “Shared Mental Models: Ideologies and Institutions” seeks to explain differences in economic performance across time and space recognizing that under conditions of uncertainty actors base their decisions “in part upon […] myths, dogmas, ideologies, ...

Is the future of Public Choice theory in jeopardy or just evolving? Dive into Peter J. Boettke's analysis of the past, present, and future of this influential field. Discover how it navigates between state capacity and self-governance.

The Past, Present, and Future of Public Choice: Part I Sixty years ago, the Public Choice Society was founded by Gordon Tullock and James Buchanan, nearly coincident with the publication of their jointly authored book, The Calculus of Consent.1 A decade ago on the 50th occasion I was tasked with discussing the “Past, Present, and Future of

Adam Smith's wisdom reveals why money rules in commerce.

Smith, Adam. 2007. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. Meta Libri. pp. 335-336.

Don't miss out on the latest episode discussing 'Following Their Leaders' by Randall Holcombe! Hear from experts Roger Congleton, Bobbi Herzberg, and Michael Munger as they delve into the impact of voting. Listen now!

"Following Their Leaders" Book Panel On this episode, we’ll hear a book panel discussion on Randall Holcombe’s book,

Is peace best achieved through top-down government intervention or through bottom-up community efforts? PhD Alum Christopher Coyne delves into these contrasting perspectives. Explore the role of individuals and communities in fostering peace.

Peacemaking: Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up This paper contrasts two views of peacemaking. The first, and dominant, view treats peacemaking as a top-down phenomena where peace, defined as the absence of large-scale violence, is a result of state action. I call this view of peace pax imperii (“peace of government”) because it holds that th...

Navigate the complexities of conflict with Gordon Tullock!

Tullock, Gordon. 1974. The Social Dilemma: The Economics of War and Revolution. Fairfax, VA: The Center for the Study of Public Choice. p. 140.

Do votes matter? Check out the latest book panel on "Following Their Leaders" by Randall Holcombe and featuring Roger Congleton, Bobbi Herzberg, and Michael Munger!

"Following Their Leaders" Book Panel On this episode, we’ll hear a book panel discussion on Randall Holcombe’s book,

Join Peter Boettke for the James M. Buchanan Collection Opening at Fenwick Library!


RSVP by Oct 10 to [email protected] with attendee names. Light refreshments provided. Visitor parking at Rappahannock deck. See you there!
https://loom.ly/BQZQL8o

Is polycentric governance the key to unlocking innovation in the knowledge economy? PhD Alum Nathan Goodman and Otto Lehto explore citizen coproduction in intellectual creation and discovery. Uncover their insights!

Intellectual property, complex externalities, and the knowledge commons Intellectual property (IP) can internalize positive externalities associated with the creation and discovery of ideas, thereby increasing investment in efforts to create and discover ideas. However, IP law also causes negative externalities. Strict IP rights raise the transaction costs associated wi...

Applications are closing this Saturday, September 30, 2023 for the Exploring Complex Solutions for a Complex World Fellowship!

Apply today or visit our website at students.mercatus.org to learn more.

Explore the engine of capitalism through Israel Kirzner's insights!

Kirzner, Israel M. 2016. Discovery, Capitalism, and Distributive Justice. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund. p. 108.

Ever wondered how private conservation could reshape our future? Don't miss the new episode of the Hayek Program Podcast where Megan Jenkins and Jordan Lofthouse dive into Environmental Economics.

Environmental Economics — Megan Jenkins on Conservation Policy Welcome to our new series, Environmental Economics, hosted by Jordan Lofthouse!

Join Peter Boettke's virtual book lecture on "The Road to Socialism and Back: An Economic History of Poland, 1939-2019," tomorrow, Wednesday, September 27th from 3:00-4:00pm!

For more information, visit: https://loom.ly/dWqa3BM

The Road to Socialism and Back: An Economic History of Poland, 1939–2019 | The Institute of World Politics You are cordially invited to attend a VIRTUAL book lecture for Peter J. Boettke, Ph.D. Senior Fellow at the Fraser Institute Professor of Economics and Philosophy at George Mason University Wednesday…

Should COVID-19 vaccine mandates be universally imposed? Brian C. Albrecht and PhD Alum Shruti Rajagopalan challenge the standard economic arguments for such mandates, emphasizing the role of local externalities and questioning the free-riding rationale.

Inframarginal externalities: COVID-19, vaccines, and universal mandates COVID-19 vaccine mandates are in place or being debated across the world. Standard neoclassical economics argues that the marginal social benefit from vaccination exceeds the marginal private benefit; everyone vaccinated against a given infectious disease protects others by not transmitting the dise...

Navigate the essence of capitalism through Joseph Schumpeter's lens!

Schumpeter, Joseph. 2008. Essays on Entrepreneurs, Innovations, Business Cycles, and the Evolution of Capitalism. New Brunswick, NJ: Transactions Publishers. p. 189.

Can private conservation efforts save endangered species? Don't miss the latest episode of the Hayek Program Podcast, where Jordan Lofthouse discusses conservation policy with Megan Jenkins. Explore issues from Prairie dogs in cemeteries to the rise of private conservation.

Environmental Economics — Megan Jenkins on Conservation Policy Welcome to our new series, Environmental Economics, hosted by Jordan Lofthouse!

Who comes out on top in the market's competitive landscape? PhD Alums Ginny Seung Choi and Virgil Storr delve into the traits and activities that make entrepreneurs successful in the game of the market.

Who wins in the game of the market? Building on the Austrian understanding of the market as a sort of game, in this article, we explore what types of players (i.e.

Can entrepreneurship be a pathway to peace? PhD Alums Christopher Coyne, Michael Romero, and Virgil Storr argue that bottom-up approaches, grounded in entrepreneurship, may offer a more effective way to foster peace than traditional top-down methods.

Entrepreneurial Pathways to Peacemaking Violent conflict is a global phenomenon with devastating costs to individuals and their communities. Government experts and policymakers have responded with efforts to reduce violence and make peace. Such efforts are often implemented from the top-down, however, and are consequently limited in their...

What enables a nation to resist a powerful adversary? PhD Alums Christopher Coyne and Nathan Goodman, along Yahya Alshamy and Garrett Wood explore the concept of polycentric defense, highlighting how it has aided Ukraine in remaining resilient against invasion.

Polycentric defense, Ukraine style: explaining Ukrainian resilience against invasion Contrary to predictions by many experts, Ukraine’s military has been resilient in the face of the Russian government’s invasion. Drawing on the logic of polycentric defense, this article helps explain how Ukraine has remained resistant against a conventionally more powerful adversary. We argue t...

What enables a nation to resist a powerful adversary? Yahya Alshamy, Christopher Coyne, Nathan Goodman and Garrett Wood delve into polycentric defense, a key to Ukraine's resilience.

Polycentric defense, Ukraine style: explaining Ukrainian resilience against invasion Contrary to predictions by many experts, Ukraine’s military has been resilient in the face of the Russian government’s invasion. Drawing on the logic of polycentric defense, this article helps explain how Ukraine has remained resistant against a conventionally more powerful adversary. We argue t...

Navigate Vincent Ostrom on federalism and constitutional choice.

Ostrom, Vincent. 2008. The Political Theory of a Compound Republic. United States: Lexington Books. p. 22.

Don't miss the final episode of the Civil Society miniseries on the Hayek Program Podcast! Join Mikayla Novak and Paul Dragos Aligica as they delve into the 'third sector,' Ostromian polycentricity, and the role of civil society in human freedom.

Civil Society — Paul Aligica on Human Freedom and the Third Sector On this episode, we complete our three-part miniseries on Civil Society, hosted by Mikayla Novak who explore

Is the gig economy misunderstood? PhD Alum Liya Palagashvili delves into the complexities of nontraditional work arrangements and argues that one-size-fits-all policies are counterproductive.

Understanding Nontraditional Work Arrangements and the Policy Landscape for Self-Employed Workers and the Gig Economy Nontraditional workers are a diverse set of people—spanning different income brackets, industries, and roles—who work as either primary or supplementary earners. This is partially why one-size-fits-all reclassification policies tend to be problematic; those efforts ignore the workforce’s diver...

Is American panhandling regulation effective? Peter Leeson and R. August Hardy argue that existing regulations may be uninformed and potentially counterproductive.

American pandhandlers Urban panhandling and its regulation are global phenomena. Panhandling regulation, like other regulation, is likely to be effective only if it is informed about that which it regulates. We investigate whether American panhandling regulation is informed by examining what information about American pa...

Can AI make 'technosocialism' work? Tune into 'Faster, Please!' where James Pethokoukis interviews Peter Boettke on this intriguing topic. Don't miss it!

🚀 Faster, Please! — The Podcast #34 Listen now (37 mins) | 🤖 My chat with economist Pete Boettke on AI and the feasibility of 'technosocialism'

Navigate the complexities of property with Vernon Smith's wisdom!

Smith, Vernon L., and Bart J. Wilson. 2019. Humanomics: Moral Sentiments and the Wealth of Nations for the Twenty-First Century. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 10.

What role does civil society play in human freedom? Don't miss the final episode of the Civil Society miniseries on the Hayek Program Podcast, featuring a conversation between Mikayla Novak and Paul Dragos Aligica. Explore the 'third sector,' Ostromian polycentricity, and more.

Civil Society — Paul Aligica on Human Freedom and the Third Sector On this episode, we complete our three-part miniseries on Civil Society, hosted by Mikayla Novak who explore

Can economic theory resolve the socialist calculation debate? This special issue in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization scrutinizes modern socialist proposals through the lens of Austrian economics.

Reply and counter-reply: On cybersocialism The socialist calculation debate is amongst the foremost paradigmatic clashes in the history of economic thought. On one side are the “Austrians” Ludwig von Mises, F. A. Hayek, and their followers. On the other side are “socialists” of different varieties, from orthodox Marxists to neoclassi...

Last day to access for free! Is the War on Terror a success or failure? PhD Alums Christopher Coyne, Abigail R. Hall, and Anne Rathbone Bradley explore the economics of terrorism and counterterrorism. Don't miss their critical insights for future research.

The Political Economy of Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and the War on Terror This Element explores the topics of terrorism, counterterrorism, and the US government's war on terror following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. It draw on insights from Austrian and public choice economics. First, the foundations of the economics of terrorism are discussed emphasizing that t...

Is the War on Terror a success or failure? PhD Alums Christopher Coyne, Abigail R. Hall, and Anne Rathbone Bradley delve into the economics of terrorism and counterterrorism, offering critical insights for future research.

The Political Economy of Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and the War on Terror This Element explores the topics of terrorism, counterterrorism, and the US government's war on terror following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. It draw on insights from Austrian and public choice economics. First, the foundations of the economics of terrorism are discussed emphasizing that t...

Explore the complexities of progressive taxation.

Mises, Ludwig von. 1998. Human Action: A Treatise on Economics. Auburn, AL: The Ludwig von Mises Institute. p. 803.

Don't miss the latest episode of the Hayek Program Podcast! Rosolino Candela and Peter Boettke delve into Boettke's new book on Poland's economic history. Discover why Poland succeeded where others didn't!

The Road to Socialism and Back — Peter Boettke & Rosolino Candela On this episode of the Hayek Program Podcast, Rosolino Candela interviews Peter Boettke on his most recent book,