AIER and Giving Tuesday
As you have noticed, the American Institute for Economic Research has enjoyed a wonderfully productive year. There are events every few days, new books every couple of weeks, one hundred or more substantial articles per month, a constant stream of visiting fellows and interns at our offices, rising reach in all our digital platforms, and media appearances from our scholars and researchers just about every day.
I’m happy. You should be too. I believe we merit your support on this Giving Tuesday for the following reason: we make a difference in the world by actively engaging in the world of ideas. This is the most effective approach there is. That’s because ideas are more powerful than political parties, bureaucrats, lobbyists, and even armies.
Our founder Edward Harwood knew this, which is why he established our research institution in 1933. The banking reforms of “that man” (FDR) followed a depression that Harwood had perfectly predicted. The response by the administration was to close the banks and steal the people’s money. The people in power had no idea what they were doing.
Meanwhile, Harwood was receiving threatening letters from the dean of his department at MIT. It was then that he said: “That’s enough, I must act.”
He founded AIER – independent of government, academia, and any single business interest – on the principles of sound money, freedom, and economic research, the products of which were disseminated to the public through a visioning publishing program. His mighty efforts garnered the respect of multitudes of political and economic dissidents. AIER thrived during the darkest years, during which time he never gave up. Later, FDR tried twice to shut us down.
Harwood stood up to “that man” and won!
Today, I’m honored to be the president of the institution, and each day I feel tremendous gratitude to the steadfast supporters who entrust me with this awesome responsibility. I’ve brought on board the best in the business in every area of our operations. People congratulate me every day on what we’ve achieved, and I always accept such compliments on behalf of my entire team.
I invite you to be part of this team, as a financial supporter. Doing so ensures that we engage in the battle of ideas around the clock, year after year, generation after generation. Only through consistent, principled efforts like ours, with the support of donors like you, can we hold out the ideal of what freedom means.
As I look at the ideas floating around in politics today, I have no doubt that AIER is needed more than ever.
So, please, make a gift to AIER today so that we can welcome you into our family of researchers, writers, and educators as we begin a new era of liberty, opportunity, and sound money for all.
We’ve been fighting for the principles of sound money, free markets, and economic freedom since 1933. Your gift today helps ensure that AIER will continue the fight for the next 86 years and beyond!
Edward Peter Stringham
Edward Peter Stringham is the Davis Professor of Economic Organizations and Innovation at Trinity College, and Editor of the Journal of Private Enterprise. Stringham served as the President of the American Institute for Economic Research. He is editor of two books and author of more than 70 journal articles, book chapters, and policy studies. His work has been discussed in 15 of the top 20 newspapers in the United States and on more than 100 broadcast stations including MTV. Stringham is a frequent guest on BBC World, Bloomberg Television, CNBC, and Fox. Rise Global ranks Stringham as one of the top 100 most influential economists in the world.
He earned his B.A. from College of the Holy Cross in 1997, his Ph.D. from George Mason University in 2002. His book, Private Governance: Creating Order in Economic and Social Life, is published by Oxford University Press.
