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Russell Sobel

Affiliated Senior Scholar
James Clark Coffman Distinguished Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies, West Virginia University
russell.sobel@mail.wvu.edu

Biography

Russell Sobel is an affiliated senior scholar at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and is the lead researcher on the legal-political aspect of the Mercatus Center's Katrina Project.

Dr. Sobel served as director of the West Virginia University Entrepreneurship Center from October 2002 until February 2006 when he was named James Clark Coffman Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies at WVU. He specializes in public economics. His work on the economics of FEMA received national attention in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, including articles in the New York Times and an appearance on CNBC. Professor Sobel's research has been published in many top journals, including the Journal of Political Economy, Economic Inquiry, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Southern Economic Journal, Public Choice, National Tax Journal, Constitutional Political Economy, Atlantic Economic Journal, Journal of Labor Research, Public Budgeting and Finance, and Journal of Public Finance and Public Choice.

Dr. Sobel received the 1996 Atlantic Economic Journal Best Article of the Year Award and the 1998 College of Business and Economics Award for Outstanding Research. He is also interested in state and local public finance, legislative behavior, international organizations, and constitutional economics.

Dr. Sobel earned a BA from Francis Marion College and a MS and a PhD from Florida State University.

Articles, Commentary, and Publications

• The Political Economy of FEMA
• The Political, Economic, and Social Aspects of Katrina
• Race, Politics, and Punishment: Democratic Failure in the New Orleans Mayoral Election
• The Impact of FEMA on U.S. Corruption
• The Use of Knowledge in Natural Disaster Relief Management
• Weathering Corruption

Events

• The Crisis of Katrina: Lessons for Preparedness and Response