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
Vernon L. Smith
Vernon L. Smith Ph.D. was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2002 for
Bobbi Herzberg
Bobbi Herzberg is a Distinguished Senior Fellow for the F. A. Hayek Program in Advanced
Ryan M. Yonk
Ryan M. Yonk is Senior Research Faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research. He
Edward J. Lopez
Edward J. Lopez is Professor of Economics, BB&T Distinguished Professor of Capitalism, and Founding Director,
William Shughart II
William F. Shughart II is the J. Fish Smith Professor in Public Choice at Utah
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
Phillip W. Magness
Phillip W. Magness is Senior Research Faculty and Director of Research and Education at the
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
Public Choice and Public Policy Project Articles
Pandemics and Liberty: An Introduction
“There will be more pandemics, and how (and how well) we can address them strongly depends on learning from contemporary and historical successes and failures. This volume aspires to take a step in this direction.” ~ Ryan M. Yonk & Raymond J. March
Jubilee and Student Loan Forgiveness
“Today, we have modern governments, which have significantly more power to tinker with economic incentives, monitoring and enforcing policies that ostensibly benefit the commonweal.” ~ Michael D. Thomas and Anthony Gill
Goodbye, Anthony Fauci
“Dr. Fauci’s career has been one of maximizing budgets and influence for his agencies and himself, all the while handling multiple public health crises with less than stellar outcomes.” ~ Ryan M. Yonk & David Waugh
