Economics

Research

Who Pays the Tax? Theoretical and Empirical Considerations of Tax Incidence Brandon Pizzola, \| Sep 24, 2012 The question of who pays a tax has a discernible answer that need not be shrouded in technical mystery. This paper offers those who have little or no formal exposure to economics a tutorial in the economics of tax incidence.	Wisdom, Alterability, and Social Rules Christopher Coyne, Peter Leeson \| Aug 20, 2012 This paper uses cost–benefit analysis to evaluate the relative efficiency of three competing sources of social rules: legislation, norms, and private rules.
On Not Doing Due Diligence Anthony Evans, Steven Horwitz \| Jun 2012 In their recent article in the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics, Bagus and Howden (2010) present “quibbles” with fractional-reserve free banking. Specifically, they raise what they call “unaddressed issues” in this system, with a particular emphasis on Selgin (1988).	Competition in Currency Thomas L. Hogan \| May 2012 This paper examines two ways in which banks could potentially issue private money.
The Political Economy of Medicaid Reform: Evidence from Five Reforming States Scott Beaulier, Brandon Pizzola \| Apr 26, 2012 Fiscal policy at both the federal and state levels is on an unsustainable path. Entitlement reform in America—particularly Medicaid reform—is shifting from a question of whether cuts should be made, to how much must be cut? To better understand best practices in Medicaid reform, we explore five recent state-level Medicaid reforms and their ability to simultaneously reduce costs, maintain or increase access, and survive the politics of reform.	Freedom and Entrepreneurship: New Evidence from the 50 States John Pulito, Benjamin J. VanMetre, \| Apr 17, 2012 Freedom in the 50 States includes measures of both economic and personal freedom. Personal freedom had not previously been studied as a factor in the entrepreneurship level, and this study found that it did not in fact have a significant impact on business creation. Only economic freedom appears to have a positive impact on entrepreneurship, although personal freedom is of course important for other reasons.

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Testimony & Comments

Written Testimony on Reforming the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Daniel Sutter \| Feb 24, 2009 This written testimony was delivered to the Texas House of Representatives Insurance Committee as part of the February 24, 2009 hearing on Texas Windstorm Insurance Assocation.	Written Testimony on Rebuilding New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina Daniel M. Rothschild, Emily Chamlee-Wright, Mario Villarreal-Diaz \| Jun 26, 2007 This written testimony was delivered to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's Subcommittee on Domestic Policy as part of the June 26, 2007 hearing on labor law enforcement and…
The Millennium Challenge Account: Property Rights and Entrepreneurship as the Engine of Development Brian Hooks, Paul Dragos Aligica, Peter J. Boettke \| Apr 13, 2004 "The Millennium Challenge Account: Property Rights and Entrepreneurship as the Engine of Development" is a comment submitted by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University’s Global Prosperity…

Speeches & Presentations

Economics for Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Peter J. Boettke \| Apr 12, 2010 Professor Peter J. Boettke's remarks upon receiving the 2010 Adam Smith Award from the Association of Private Enterprise Education.	The Battle of Ideas: Economics and the Struggle for a Better World Peter J. Boettke \| Aug 07, 2007 This paper is Peter J. Boettke's speech at the twelfth Sir Ronald Trotter Lecture in New Zealand. Sir Ronald Trotter was the first chairman of the New Zealand Business Roundtable, who was knighted in…
Hayek Memorial Lecture Peter J. Boettke \| Oct 27, 2004 Is there a unique Austrian School of Economics that represents a viable research program in modern economics? Peter Boettke locates the intellectual position and opportunities for mutually beneficial…	Implications and Next Steps - A Dialogue Between USAID and Forum 6 Scholar Contributors Peter J. Boettke \| Apr 04, 2003 Oral comments transcribed from USAID Forum…

Expert Commentary

FEMA Doesn't Have Local Knowledge Needed for Effective Relief U.S. News and World Report Debate Club By Steven Horwitz \| Nov 01, 2012 The mistakes made by FEMA during its response to Hurricane Katrina are the stuff of legend. It failed to get to the worst hit areas for days, it was unprepared for the scope of the disaster, and many of the trailers it provided for temporary housing were later found to be toxic. It is hard to identify anything it did right in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Local politicians were merciless in their criticisms, even to the point of—rightly—praising the job done by Walmart in getting supplies to the New Orleans area and crediting Walmart's response with preventing looting and other problems in their towns.	QE3 and Our Long-Term Economic Outlook By Steven Horwitz \| Sep 24, 2012 Mercatus Center Scholar Steve Horwitz answers questions on the latest round of quantitative easing (QE) and what it means for our long-term economic outlook.
Financial Markets Are Not 'Every Man For Himself' Buffalo News By Steven Horwitz \| Sep 03, 2012 What destroys this intricate fabric of social cooperation is when politicians and bureaucrats intervene, thinking they know better who should be producing which things and how they should be doing it. The social cooperation of the market relies on the accuracy of those price and profit signals. When government policy attempts to force prices up or down, limit profits or "bail out" losses, it pits us against each other in a struggle for government privileges rather than encouraging cooperation.	Empirics and Psychology: Eight of the World’s Top Young Economists Discuss Where Their Field Is Going BigThink By Peter Leeson \| Jul 27, 2012 To get the pulse of a field in flux, I asked eight of the world’s top young economists to identify the biggest unanswered questions in economics and predict what breakthroughs will define it a decade or two hence. The interview features BB&T Professor for the Study of Capitalism at the Mercatus Center Peter Leeson.
Remembering Elinor "Lin" Ostrom (1933-2012) By Peter J. Boettke \| Jun 12, 2012 It is with great sadness that we share the news that Elinor “Lin” Ostrom passed away this morning after a courageous battle with cancer. Our thoughts are with her husband and colleague Vincent. For over half a century the Ostroms collaborated side-by-side, first at UCLA and then at Indiana University, where they established the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis.	Inflation Concerns Go Beyond Rise in Consumer Price Index By Steven Horwitz \| Oct 21, 2011 -…

Experts

Peter J. Boettke

Peter Boettke is a University Professor of Economics and Philosophy at George Mason University, the BB&T Professor for the Study of Capitalism, and the Director of the F.A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the Mercatus Center at GMU.

Emily Chamlee-Wright

Emily Chamlee-Wright is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Her primary research interests include development economics, cultural economics, and indigenous markets in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Christopher Coyne

Christopher Coyne is Associate Director of the F. A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He also holds the title of F.A. Harper Professor of Economics at the Mercatus Center and he is a member of the department of economics at George Mason University where he serves as the Director of Graduate Studies.

Steven Horwitz

Steven Horwitz is a Mercatus Center Affiliated Senior Scholar, the Charles A. Dana Professor of Economics and department chair at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. He completed his MA and PhD in economics at George Mason University and received his A.B. in economics and philosophy from The University of Michigan.

Virgil Storr

Virgil Storr is a senior research fellow and director of graduate student programs at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He is a research associate professor of economics and the Don C. Lavoie research fellow in the program in philosophy, politics, and economics at the department of economics of George Mason University.

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Videos

Dr. Israel M. Kirzner's Contributions to Market Process Theory and Entrepreneurship Studies

Peter J. Boettke, Donald J. Boudreaux, Peter Klein, | February 21, 2013

Peter Boettke Discusses His Latest Book, "Living Economics"

Peter J. Boettke | May 29, 2012

Podcasts

Boettke on Living Economics

Russell Roberts, Peter J. Boettke | January 28, 2013

Peter Boettke of George Mason University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book, Living Economics. Boettke argues for embracing the tradition of Smith and Hayek in both teaching and research, arguing that economics took a wrong turn when it began to look more like a branch of applied mathematics. He sees spontaneous order as the central principle for understanding and teaching economics. The conversation also includes a brief homage to James Buchanan who passed away shortly before this interview was recorded.

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Recent Events

Political and Economic Change in Egypt and the Middle East

What are the political implications of the revolutions in the Middle East? What will their future look like? Join the conversation with our panel of experts who will share their thoughts and perspectives on the political future of the Middle East.

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Books

Competition & Entrepreneurship: The Collected Works of Israel M. Kirzner

Peter J. Boettke, Frederic Sautet | Apr 01, 2013

First published in 1973, Competition and Entrepreneurship defined Israel M. Kirzner’s unique contribution to the economics profession. This volume, in print without interruption since the date of its first publication, provides a thorough critique of contemporary price theory, an essay on the theory of entrepreneurship, and an essay on the theory of competition, offering a new appraisal of quality competition, of selling effort, and of the fundamental weaknesses of contemporary welfare economics.

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More Media Clippings

Who Pays the Tax? Theoretical and Empirical Considerations of Tax Incidence Brandon Pizzola, \| Sep 24, 2012 The question of who pays a tax has a discernible answer that need not be shrouded in technical mystery. This paper offers those who have little or no formal exposure to economics a tutorial in the economics of tax incidence.	Wisdom, Alterability, and Social Rules Christopher Coyne, Peter Leeson \| Aug 20, 2012 This paper uses cost–benefit analysis to evaluate the relative efficiency of three competing sources of social rules: legislation, norms, and private rules.
On Not Doing Due Diligence Anthony Evans, Steven Horwitz \| Jun 2012 In their recent article in the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics, Bagus and Howden (2010) present “quibbles” with fractional-reserve free banking. Specifically, they raise what they call “unaddressed issues” in this system, with a particular emphasis on Selgin (1988).	Competition in Currency Thomas L. Hogan \| May 2012 This paper examines two ways in which banks could potentially issue private money.
The Political Economy of Medicaid Reform: Evidence from Five Reforming States Scott Beaulier, Brandon Pizzola \| Apr 26, 2012 Fiscal policy at both the federal and state levels is on an unsustainable path. Entitlement reform in America—particularly Medicaid reform—is shifting from a question of whether cuts should be made, to how much must be cut? To better understand best practices in Medicaid reform, we explore five recent state-level Medicaid reforms and their ability to simultaneously reduce costs, maintain or increase access, and survive the politics of reform.	Freedom and Entrepreneurship: New Evidence from the 50 States John Pulito, Benjamin J. VanMetre, \| Apr 17, 2012 Freedom in the 50 States includes measures of both economic and personal freedom. Personal freedom had not previously been studied as a factor in the entrepreneurship level, and this study found that it did not in fact have a significant impact on business creation. Only economic freedom appears to have a positive impact on entrepreneurship, although personal freedom is of course important for other reasons.

Economics for Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Peter J. Boettke \| Apr 12, 2010 Professor Peter J. Boettke's remarks upon receiving the 2010 Adam Smith Award from the Association of Private Enterprise Education.	The Battle of Ideas: Economics and the Struggle for a Better World Peter J. Boettke \| Aug 07, 2007 This paper is Peter J. Boettke's speech at the twelfth Sir Ronald Trotter Lecture in New Zealand. Sir Ronald Trotter was the first chairman of the New Zealand Business Roundtable, who was knighted in…
Hayek Memorial Lecture Peter J. Boettke \| Oct 27, 2004 Is there a unique Austrian School of Economics that represents a viable research program in modern economics? Peter Boettke locates the intellectual position and opportunities for mutually beneficial…	Implications and Next Steps - A Dialogue Between USAID and Forum 6 Scholar Contributors Peter J. Boettke \| Apr 04, 2003 Oral comments transcribed from USAID Forum…

FEMA Doesn't Have Local Knowledge Needed for Effective Relief U.S. News and World Report Debate Club By Steven Horwitz \| Nov 01, 2012 The mistakes made by FEMA during its response to Hurricane Katrina are the stuff of legend. It failed to get to the worst hit areas for days, it was unprepared for the scope of the disaster, and many of the trailers it provided for temporary housing were later found to be toxic. It is hard to identify anything it did right in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Local politicians were merciless in their criticisms, even to the point of—rightly—praising the job done by Walmart in getting supplies to the New Orleans area and crediting Walmart's response with preventing looting and other problems in their towns.	QE3 and Our Long-Term Economic Outlook By Steven Horwitz \| Sep 24, 2012 Mercatus Center Scholar Steve Horwitz answers questions on the latest round of quantitative easing (QE) and what it means for our long-term economic outlook.
Financial Markets Are Not 'Every Man For Himself' Buffalo News By Steven Horwitz \| Sep 03, 2012 What destroys this intricate fabric of social cooperation is when politicians and bureaucrats intervene, thinking they know better who should be producing which things and how they should be doing it. The social cooperation of the market relies on the accuracy of those price and profit signals. When government policy attempts to force prices up or down, limit profits or "bail out" losses, it pits us against each other in a struggle for government privileges rather than encouraging cooperation.	Empirics and Psychology: Eight of the World’s Top Young Economists Discuss Where Their Field Is Going BigThink By Peter Leeson \| Jul 27, 2012 To get the pulse of a field in flux, I asked eight of the world’s top young economists to identify the biggest unanswered questions in economics and predict what breakthroughs will define it a decade or two hence. The interview features BB&T Professor for the Study of Capitalism at the Mercatus Center Peter Leeson.
Remembering Elinor "Lin" Ostrom (1933-2012) By Peter J. Boettke \| Jun 12, 2012 It is with great sadness that we share the news that Elinor “Lin” Ostrom passed away this morning after a courageous battle with cancer. Our thoughts are with her husband and colleague Vincent. For over half a century the Ostroms collaborated side-by-side, first at UCLA and then at Indiana University, where they established the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis.	Inflation Concerns Go Beyond Rise in Consumer Price Index By Steven Horwitz \| Oct 21, 2011 -…