Public Choice and Public Policy Project

AIER is pleased to announce as part of its ongoing research efforts the formation of the Public Choice and Public Policy Project. Modeled on the success of the Sound Money Project, this project creates a network of scholars that will offer regular commentary and in-depth analysis on public policy using the tools of Public Choice Economics.

Public Choice was described as “politics without romance” by Nobel Laureate James Buchanan. Buchanan along with an exceptional group of scholars that included fellow Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom, as well as Kenneth Arrow, Duncan Black, Gordon Tullock, Anthony Downs, William Niskanen, Mancur Olson and many others worked to create an approach to understanding public policy based in the realities of what government can and cannot achieve.

As the heirs to the broad legacy of the founders of Public Choice, the innovative scholars who make up this project seek to understand the reality of government decision making and the consequences those decisions have on all of our lives. This group of scholars seeks to suggest alternatives to the romantic political notions that often dominate policy discussions.

Ryan Yonk
Director of The Public Choice and Public Policy Project
Senior Research Faculty, American Institute for Economic Research

Project Fellows

Ryan M. Yonk

Ryan M. Yonk is Senior Research Faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research. He

William Shughart II

William F. Shughart II is the J. Fish Smith Professor in Public Choice at Utah

Bobbi Herzberg

Bobbi Herzberg is a Distinguished Senior Fellow for the F. A. Hayek Program in Advanced

Vernon L. Smith

Vernon L. Smith Ph.D. was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2002 for

Edward J. Lopez

Edward J. Lopez is Professor of Economics, BB&T Distinguished Professor of Capitalism, and Founding Director,

Lenore T. Ealy

Lenore Ealy is Vicerrectora internacional and a member of the doctoral faculty at Universidad Francisco

Olav Dirkmaat

Olav Dirkmaat is a Professor of Economics at Universidad Francisco Marroquín and Director of the

Michael Munger

Michael Munger is a Professor of Political Science, Economics, and Public Policy at Duke University

Phillip W. Magness

Phillip W. Magness is Senior Research Faculty and F.A. Hayek Chair in Economics and Economic

Peter T. Calcagno

Peter Calcagno is a Professor of Economics at the College of Charleston and director of

Anthony Gill

Anthony Gill is a professor of political economy at the University of Washington and a

Raymond J. March

Raymond March is a faculty fellow at the NDSU Center for the Study of Public

Michael Thomas

Michael Thomas is an Associate Professor of Economics at the Heider School of Business and

Audrey Redford

Audrey Redford is the Assistant Professor of Economics at Western Carolina University She earned her

Diana W. Thomas

Dr. Diana Thomas is an Associate Professor of Economics and Director of the Institute for

Abigail Devereaux

Abigail is an incoming research fellow at the Institute for the Study of Economic Growth

Byron B. Carson, III

Byron Carson is an Assistant Professor of Economics and Business at Hampden-Sydney College, in Hampden-Sydney,

Abigail R. Hall Blanco

Abigail Hall Blanco is a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute and an Associate Professor

Jeremy Jackson

Jeremy Jackson is a professor of economics in the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics

Crystal Taylor

Crystal Taylor is the Director of Public Policy at the DeVoe L. Moore Center at

Siri Terjsen

Siri Terjsen is Associate Dean of Research & External Relations and Phil Smith Professor of

Adam Martin

Adam Martin is an associate professor of agricultural and applied economics in the College of

David Mitchell

David Mitchell is an associate professor of economics at the University of Central Arkansas and

Veeshan Rayamajhee

Veeshan Rayamajhee is an assistant professor of economics in the Department of Agribusiness and Applied

Ravi Roy

Ravi Roy is an associate professor of political science at Southern Utah University and the

Michael Giberson

Michael Giberson is an associate professor of practice at Texas Tech University and a faculty

Randy Simmons

Randy Simmons is a professor of political economy and Director of the Institute of Political

Eduardo Fernández Luiña

Dr. Eduardo Fernández Luiña is an associate professor at the Institute of Political Studies and

Santiago Fernández-Ordóñez

Santiago Fernández-Ordóñez is the Dean of the School of Political Studies and International Relations at

Carroll Ríos de Rodríguez

Carroll Ríos de Rodríguez received her master’s in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University and

Daniel J. D’Amico

Daniel J. D’Amico is an associated faculty member at Wabash College and the inaugural director

Before Moving From DC, Move Federal Employees from San Francisco

“To enforce coordination within the federal executive and between federal agencies and state governments — correcting a fatal flaw in Nixon’s original plan — the President should appoint a representative to each state capital.” ~Charles Keckler

Charles Keckler November 14, 2023

Continuing to Get Straight the Facts About the American Economy

“Despite governments at the local, state, and federal levels all obstructing, in various ways, the process of entrepreneurial wealth creation, the robustness of the American economy continues to impress.”

Donald J. Boudreaux May 31, 2023

Why We Need Acquisitions and Why Khan’s Concerns are Bad for Business

“Antitrust cases cost a great deal of time and money, and yet Lina Khan asserts that FTC will be looking more closely at M&As both past and present — and this assertion should be of concern to any entrepreneur and any corporate investor.” ~Kimberlee Josephson

Kimberlee Josephson May 28, 2023