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Economic Freedom Initiative

About the Economic Freedom Initiative
The mission of the Economic Freedom Initiative (EFI) at Auburn University is to create a network of on- and off-campus faculty and students engaged in research and educational outreach related to the concept, measurement, causes, and consequences of economic freedom.
The Concept: What is the nature and meaning of economic freedom? Is economic freedom the same thing as wealth? In what way, is economic freedom in harmony or in conflict with human freedom more broadly defined?
The Measurement: How do we measure economic freedom? Why is measurement of economic freedom important? What improvements can we make to existing measures?
The Causes: Why did economic freedom develop in western Europe and spread to other parts of the world? Why has economic freedom failed, at least until recently, to take hold in China, India, most of Africa and Latin America? What factors explain why some nations like Chile and Botswana have achieved high levels of economic freedom while most nations in their regions have not?
The Consequences: What economic, social, and cultural consequences flow from economically free societies? What is the nature of the economic freedom-economic growth/income relationship? What are the implications for economic freedom beyond growth/income for democracy, civil liberties, religion, culture, tolerance, war, crime, gender, education, health, the environment, inequality, happiness, entreprenuership, etc.?
The Economic Freedom Initiative is affiliated with the new Center for International Finance and Global Competitiveness in the College of Business at Auburn University. The EFI plans to hire a team of up to 5 new tenured or tenure-track faculty . In addition we plan to sponsor Economic Freedom Scholars, AU and visiting faculty with specific research proposals, and Economic Freedom Fellows, undergraduate and graduate students to study and conduct research on economic freedom.
Seminars
  • Sept 18, 2009: Russ Sobel (West Virginia University), tba.
  • March 6, 2009: Scott Beulier (Mercer University), "A Tale of Two Countries: the Economic Experience of Botswana and Zimbabwe."
  • January 16, 2009: Michael Stroup (Stephen F. Austin State University), "Closed-End Country Fund Premiums and Economic Freedom"
  • Oct 10, 2008: Art Carden (Rhodes College), "Economic Growth and the Entrepreneurial Environment".
Links
Contact:
Robert A. Lawson, Director of the Economic Freedom Initiative, Associate Professor, Department of Finance, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, 334-844-3007, ral0011@auburn.edu.