Economic History

Research

Economic Recovery: Lessons from the Post-World War II Period Cecil Bohanon \| Sep 10, 2012 Both President Obama and Professor Krugman are using very broad historical strokes to make the case that an activist federal government is essential to prosperity. These strokes have an air of plausibility and contain elements of truth. But a closer examination of the actual events of the immediate postwar period provides a picture that is much more nuanced and at odds with the world view that government intervention is the essential ingredient of prosperity. Although the postwar era was indeed inaugurated by a huge contraction in government spending that was made possible by the Allied victory, the end of deficit spending did not send the United States into a deep depression.	Taxes, Lawyers, and the Decline of Witch Trials in France Mark Koyama, Noel D. Johnson \| Oct 21, 2011 This paper explores the rise of the fiscal state in the early modern period and its impact on legal capacity. To measure legal capacity, we establish that witchcraft trials were more likely to take place where the central state had weak legal institutions. Further historical evidence supports our hypothesis that higher taxes led to better legal institutions.
Taking Institutions Seriously John Nye \| Jun 21, 2011 This essay uses the Philippines as a case study to suggest what is wrong with leading development prescriptions.	The Virtuous Discourse of Adam Smith Michael J. Clark \| Mar 11, 2011 This paper analyzes Adam Smith’s views on strategic politeness.
The Divergence of Cultures Jack Goldstone \| Dec 14, 2010 The question of what separated Europe from the rest of the world in the 19th century remains a puzzle, and will remain so if we focus on material factors, or on broad ideological trends. We need to focus on particular elements of modernity unique to Europe, and search for their intellectual origins.	The U.S. Postwar Miracle David R. Henderson \| Nov 04, 2010 Why did the U.S. economy do so well in the years following World War II given how badly it had done in the years preceding America’s entry into the war? The answer, in a nutshell, is that…

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Speeches & Presentations

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…	The Formal, the Informal and the Three Entrepreneurs Frederic Sautet \| Nov 19, 2004 On October 19, 2004, Mercatus Center Senior Fellow Frederic Sautet delivered a presentation on institutions and entrepreneurship to the New Zealand Business Roundtable (NZBR). This talk was part of…
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…

Expert Commentary

Why Is There No Milton Friedman Today? Econ Journal Watch By Daniel Klein, Tyler Cowen, John Blundell, David R. Henderson, David Colander, Richard Epstein, James Galbraith, J. Daniel Hammond, Daniel Houser, Steven Medema, Sam Peltzman, Richard Posner \| May 21, 2013 Imagine that someone with all the endowments of a Milton Friedman were born in the 1960s or 1970s. Is it conceivable that such a person would develop into a ‘Milton Friedman’ like we know the actual Friedman to have been, including his academic eminence and his eloquent and influential advocacy of classical liberalism? Here leading economists address the question: Why is there no Milton Friedman today?	Milton Friedman, a Centennial Appreciation Newsday By Donald J. Boudreaux \| Jul 30, 2012 In a free society government is kept as small and as constrained as possible, charged with doing only those few tasks that are widely believed to be doable only by government - tasks such as building roads and supplying national defense. All other tasks are left to the creative forces of the free market. And in doing those few tasks, Friedman maintained, the freedom and dignity of every individual must always be respected.
Book Review: The Clash of Economic Ideas By Lawrence H. White \| Jun 18, 2012 In "The Clash of Economic Ideas: The Great Policy Debates and Experiments of the Last Hundred Years," George Mason economist Lawrence H. White provides a masterful treatment of the struggle between different approaches and different schools of thought.	Living Economics By Peter J. Boettke \| May 31, 2012 My love affair with economics began in the fall of 1979. The summer prior to that I had experienced the long lines for gasoline, and I was confused and frustrated by the experience for a variety of reasons. Economics erased my confusion and targeted my frustration on the cause of the shortages. I was hooked.
Nobel in Economics Winners’ Research: Very Relevant to Today’s Economic Recovery By Matthew Mitchell \| Oct 10, 2011	The Real Issue Behind the Wealth Gap By Steven Horwitz \| Sep 13, 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.

Donald J. Boudreaux

Donald J. Boudreaux is a professor of economics at George Mason University.

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.

Noel D. Johnson

Noel Johnson is a research fellow at the Mercatus Center and assistant professor of economics at George Mason University. His research focuses on the historical origins of modern economic growth.

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Videos

Peter Boettke Discusses His Latest Book, "Living Economics"

Peter J. Boettke | May 29, 2012

Daniel Klein's Knowledge and Coordination: A Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Book Discussion

Daniel Klein, Peter J. Boettke, Deirdre McCloskey | March 28, 2012

Podcasts

Bernstein on Communication, Power and the Masters of the Word

Russell Roberts | May 06, 2013

William Bernstein talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, Masters of the Word. Bernstein traces the history of language, writing, and communication and its impact on freedom. The discussion begins with the evolution of language and the written word and continues up through radio and the internet. A particular focus of the conversation is how tyrants use information technology to oppress their people but at the same time, technology can be used to liberate people from oppression.

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Recent Events

Sylvia Nasar's Grand Pursuit: A Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Lecture

As part of the commemoration and celebration of the life and work of Professor Don Lavoie, The Mercatus Center at George Mason University invites you to the Workshop in Politics Philosophy and Economics lecture by Professor Sylvia Nasar. During this lecture, Professor Nasar will discuss her new book, Grand Pursuit: The Story of Economic Genius.

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Books

Bourgeois Dignity

Deirdre McCloskey | Nov 30, 2010

Our modern world was not the product of new markets and innovations, but rather the result of shifting opinions about them.

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Media Clippings

Review: Doing Bad by Doing Good: Why Humanitarian Action Fails

Christopher Coyne | May 21, 2013

Book review in The Huffington Post on Chris Coyne's new book, "Doing Bad by Doing Good: Why Humanitarian Action Fails".

Economic Recovery: Lessons from the Post-World War II Period Cecil Bohanon \| Sep 10, 2012 Both President Obama and Professor Krugman are using very broad historical strokes to make the case that an activist federal government is essential to prosperity. These strokes have an air of plausibility and contain elements of truth. But a closer examination of the actual events of the immediate postwar period provides a picture that is much more nuanced and at odds with the world view that government intervention is the essential ingredient of prosperity. Although the postwar era was indeed inaugurated by a huge contraction in government spending that was made possible by the Allied victory, the end of deficit spending did not send the United States into a deep depression.	Taxes, Lawyers, and the Decline of Witch Trials in France Mark Koyama, Noel D. Johnson \| Oct 21, 2011 This paper explores the rise of the fiscal state in the early modern period and its impact on legal capacity. To measure legal capacity, we establish that witchcraft trials were more likely to take place where the central state had weak legal institutions. Further historical evidence supports our hypothesis that higher taxes led to better legal institutions.
Taking Institutions Seriously John Nye \| Jun 21, 2011 This essay uses the Philippines as a case study to suggest what is wrong with leading development prescriptions.	The Virtuous Discourse of Adam Smith Michael J. Clark \| Mar 11, 2011 This paper analyzes Adam Smith’s views on strategic politeness.
The Divergence of Cultures Jack Goldstone \| Dec 14, 2010 The question of what separated Europe from the rest of the world in the 19th century remains a puzzle, and will remain so if we focus on material factors, or on broad ideological trends. We need to focus on particular elements of modernity unique to Europe, and search for their intellectual origins.	The U.S. Postwar Miracle David R. Henderson \| Nov 04, 2010 Why did the U.S. economy do so well in the years following World War II given how badly it had done in the years preceding America’s entry into the war? The answer, in a nutshell, is that…

Why Is There No Milton Friedman Today? Econ Journal Watch By Daniel Klein, Tyler Cowen, John Blundell, David R. Henderson, David Colander, Richard Epstein, James Galbraith, J. Daniel Hammond, Daniel Houser, Steven Medema, Sam Peltzman, Richard Posner \| May 21, 2013 Imagine that someone with all the endowments of a Milton Friedman were born in the 1960s or 1970s. Is it conceivable that such a person would develop into a ‘Milton Friedman’ like we know the actual Friedman to have been, including his academic eminence and his eloquent and influential advocacy of classical liberalism? Here leading economists address the question: Why is there no Milton Friedman today?	Milton Friedman, a Centennial Appreciation Newsday By Donald J. Boudreaux \| Jul 30, 2012 In a free society government is kept as small and as constrained as possible, charged with doing only those few tasks that are widely believed to be doable only by government - tasks such as building roads and supplying national defense. All other tasks are left to the creative forces of the free market. And in doing those few tasks, Friedman maintained, the freedom and dignity of every individual must always be respected.
Book Review: The Clash of Economic Ideas By Lawrence H. White \| Jun 18, 2012 In "The Clash of Economic Ideas: The Great Policy Debates and Experiments of the Last Hundred Years," George Mason economist Lawrence H. White provides a masterful treatment of the struggle between different approaches and different schools of thought.	Living Economics By Peter J. Boettke \| May 31, 2012 My love affair with economics began in the fall of 1979. The summer prior to that I had experienced the long lines for gasoline, and I was confused and frustrated by the experience for a variety of reasons. Economics erased my confusion and targeted my frustration on the cause of the shortages. I was hooked.
Nobel in Economics Winners’ Research: Very Relevant to Today’s Economic Recovery By Matthew Mitchell \| Oct 10, 2011	The Real Issue Behind the Wealth Gap By Steven Horwitz \| Sep 13, 2011