USD Center for Ethics, Economics, and Public Policy

03/13/2026

In a year that marks the 250th anniversary of America's founding document, 15 undergraduates from five Southern California universities spent a Saturday in deep conversation about the ideas that shaped a nation — and continue to challenge it.

The University of San Diego's Center for Ethics, Economics, and Public Policy hosted its 6th Annual SoCal Undergraduate PPE Colloquium on February 28, bringing together students from Claremont McKenna College, Pomona College, Chapman University, UC San Diego and USD for a day of seminar-style discussion built around a single theme: the Declaration of Independence.

Click below to read all about it!
https://www.sandiego.edu/newscenter/119610

02/27/2026

03/17/2025

This February, students from across Southern California came together to discuss the idea of "repugnant markets" at the 5th annual SoCal Undergraduate PPE Colloquium. Find out more below!

From toothpaste to telephone service, most of the goods and services we depend on are produced and delivered by the market economy. But is there a moral limit to how far markets should go? Should people be allowed to sell their blood plasma? Their kidneys? Their vote?

03/06/2025

For those of you who missed our recent event with Tim Carney, here's a video of his excellent talk!

Tim Carney, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, speaks at the University of San Diego's Center for Ethics, Economics, and Public Policy about...

05/04/2021

Philosophers Clinton Castro and Adam Pham on "Ethics and the Attention Economy." Moderated by Ryan Doody.

A panel discussion featuring Clinton Castro (Florida International University) and Adam K. Pham (Caltech), and moderated by Ryan Doody (USD Philosophy), cent...

11/24/2020

What is viewpoint diversity, and why does it matter for higher education? In case you missed it, here's CEEPP Director Matt Zwolinski's talk on "Political Conformity in Higher Education."

America is becoming increasingly politically polarized, and higher education is no exception to this trend. Over the last 30 years, university faculties have...

11/20/2020

From the archives... Michael Munger and Vivek Chibber debate, "Is it time for America to Embrace Socialism?"

Vivek Chibber and Michael Munger debate whether socialism is a viable form of economic organization for a complex and dynamic society, and whether a socialis...

10/08/2020

For those of you who weren't able to make it yesterday, here's Sanford Ikeda's excellent talk on economics and housing. Topics covered include rent control, restrictive zoning, public housing, housing vouchers, and the ideas of Jane Jacobs.

Why is the price of housing so high in San Diego, New York City, and London but not in central Tokyo? How have housing policies intended to help low-income f...

09/27/2020

ICYMI, here's the video of our conversation with Conor Dougherty from last week. We talk about California's housing crisis, the YIMBY movement, rent control, and more.

Conor Dougherty, reporter for the New York Times and author of Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America, talks with Matt Zwolinski of USD's Center for E...