Reflections of a Political Economist: A Book Forum November 12, 2008

Host: Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Dr. Niskanen’s book “illustrates how economic incentives significantly aid in the creation of successful policies and applies his sharply focused economic perspective to such topics as unemployment, election law, and the economics of war and peace. This practical approach toward economic policy generates surprising results and offers suggestions to avoid common pitfalls of government policymaking (quoted with permission from promotional material).” A copy of the book may be purchased at Amazon or the Cato Book Store.

“William A. Niskanen was chairman of the Cato Institute from 1985 until September 2008, following service as a member and acting chairman of President Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers. Niskanen has served as director of economics at the Ford Motor Company, professor of economics at the University of California at Berkeley and Los Angeles, assistant director of the federal Office of Management and Budget, a defense analyst at the Rand Corporation, the director of special studies in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the director of the Program Analysis division at the Institute of Defense Analysis. He has written on many public policy issues including corporate governance, defense, federal budget policy, regulation, Social Security, taxes, and trade (quoted with permission from Cato Institute profile).”

Dr. Niskanen holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago.

Official Website: http://www.mercatus.org/EventDetails.aspx?id=24212