Benjamin Powell

Department of Economics

Suffolk University

8 Ashburton Pl.

Boston MA 02114-4280

Ph: 617-573-8023

Fax: 617-994-4216

bpowell@suffolk.edu

Academic Positions

• Suffolk University

Assistant Professor of Economics 2007-

• Beacon Hill Institute

Senior Economist 2007-

• Executive Board Member

Association of Private Enterprise Education 2006-

• San Jose State University

Assistant Professor of Economics 2003-2007

• Independent Institute

Director of the Center on Entrepreneurial Innovation 2004-2007

Education

· George Mason University

Ph.D. Economics, August 2003

M.A. Economics, January 2002

· University of Massachusetts Lowell

B.S. Finance and Economics, May 2000

Journal Articles

“Somalia After State Collapse: Chaos or Improvement.” (with Ryan Ford and

Alex Nowrasteh) Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization. Forthcoming.

“An Experimental Investigation of Hobbesian Jungles” (with Bart Wilson).

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization. Forthcoming.

“The Environment of Productive Entrepreneurship: Evidence from Asia and the

Pacific Rim.” Indian Journal of Economics and Business. Special Issue

2007.

“Does Development Aid Lead To Economic Freedom?” (with Matt Ryan).

Journal of Private Enterprise. Vol. 22. No. 1. Fall 2006.

“In Reply to Sweatshop Sophistries.” Human Rights Quarterly. Vol. 28. No.4.

Nov. 2006.

“Taxing Development: The Law and Economics of Traffic Impact Fees.” (with

Jack Estill and Edward Stringham). Boston University Public Interest Law Journal. Vol. 16. No. 1. Fall 2006.

“The Economics of Outsourcing.” (with Matt Ryan). California Labor &

Employment Law Review. Vol. 20. No. 4. August 2006.

“Sweatshops and Third World Living Standards: Are the Jobs Worth the Sweat?”

(with David Skarbek) Journal of Labor Research, Vol. 27. No. 2. Spring 2006.

“State Development Planning: Did it Create an East Asian Miracle?” Review of

Austrian Economics, Vol. 18. No. 3/4. December 2005.

“The Economics of Inclusionary Zoning Reclaimed: How Effective are Price

Controls?” (with Edward Stringham) Florida State University Law Review, Vol. 33. No. 2. Winter 2005.

“The Economics of Cybersecurity: Evidence From the Financial Industry”

Journal of Law, Economics, and Public Policy. Vol. 1. No. 2. Winter 2005.

“Competition and Monopoly Power in Local Government: An Extension of

Caplan (2001).” Public Choice, Vol. 120. 2004.

“Do Pessimistic Assumptions About Human Behavior Justify Government?”

(with Christopher Coyne) The Journal of Libertarian Studies. Vol. 17 No. 4. Fall 2003.

“Economic Freedom and Growth: The Case of the Celtic Tiger.” Cato Journal,

Vol. 22 No. 3. Winter 2003.

“Explaining Japan’s Recession.” Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics, Vol.

5, No. 2. Summer 2002.

Books

Making Poor Nations Rich: Entrepreneurship and the Process of Development.

(Ed.) Stanford University Press. 2008.

Contributions to Books

“Murray Rothbard.” (with Edward Stringham). Palgrave Dictionary of

Economics. Forthcoming.

“Housing.” (with Edward Stringham) The Concise Encyclopedia of

Economics, ed. David Henderson. Forthcoming.

“Japan.” The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics, ed. David Henderson.

Forthcoming.

“Economics in Defense of Liberty: the Contribution of Murray Rothbard” (with

Edward Stringham) Biographical Dictionary of Austrian Economists, ed.

Steven Horwitz. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Forthcoming.

“Public Choice and Leviathan.” Anarchy, State, and Public Choice, ed. Edward

Stringham. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. 2006.

“Promoting Economic Development: Government Programs or Economic Freedom?” in

Oklahoma Policy Blue Print, An action plan for advancing economic and educational freedom. Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. Oklahoma City OK. 2002.

Other Peer Reviewed Publications (Reviews, Notes, Policy Papers)

“Review of Globalization and Its Enemies by Daniel Cohen.” Independent

Review. Vol. 13. No. 1. Forthcoming.

“A Taste of Protectionism: Coca-Cola in the Classroom.” Journal of Private

Enterprise. Educational Note. Vol. 23. No. 1. Fall 2007.

“Review of The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad

Policies by Bryan Caplan.” (with Prema Popat) New Perspectives in Political Economy. Vol. 3. No. 1. 2007.

“Miracle on Kildare Street: What Ireland’s Economic Revival Means for

Arizona.” Policy Brief. Goldwater Institute. No. 219. March 2007.

“Are ‘Sweatshops’ Bad for Third World Workers?” (with David Skarbek)

Economic Education Bulletin, American Institute for Economic Research,

Vol. 45 No. 4, April, 2005.

“Affordable Housing in Monterey County: Analyzing the General Plan Update

and Applied Development Economics Report” (with Edward Stringham

and Adam Summers) Policy Study 323, Reason Public Policy Institute,

August 2004.

“Do Affordable Housing Mandates Work? Evidence from Los Angeles County

and Orange County” (with Edward Stringham) Policy Study 320, Reason Public Policy Institute, June 2004.

“Housing Supply and Affordability: Do Affordable Housing Mandates Work?”

(with Edward Stringham) Policy Study 318, Reason Public Policy

Institute, April 2004.

“Affordable Housing Laws Make Housing Less Affordable.” (with Edward

Stringham) Economic Education Bulletin, American Institute for Economic Research, Vol. 43 No. 12, December 2003.

“Private Property Rights, Economic Freedom, and Well Being.” Economic

Education Bulletin, American Institute for Economic Research, Vol. 42 No. 11, November 2002.

“Antitrust is Anti-Consumer.” (with Adam Summers) Economic Education

Bulletin, American Institute for Economic Research, Vol. 42 No. 7, July 2002.

“Tax Competition Is Beneficial, Not Harmful.” Research Reports, American

Institute for Economic Research, Vol. 68 No. 15, August 2001.

“A ‘Poor’ Accounting of the Poor.” Economic Education Bulletin, American

Institute for Economic Research, Vol. 40 No. 7, July 2000

Under Review/Work in Process

“Corruption and the Institutional Environment for Growth.” Under review at

Southern Economic Journal. January 2008.

America’s Housing Crisis. (Ed. with Randall Holcombe). Under review with

academic publishers.

Selected Popular Press Publications

I write regular op-ed columns dealing with economic issues. My columns have appeared in more than 50 popular outlets nationwide. Below are some selected examples. A full list is available upon request.

“Affordability Disaster Wrapped in a Blue Ribbon.” Oakland Tribune.

November 1, 2007.

“Free Marketeers Back Immigration.” Financial Times (London). August 8,

2007.

“Trade Deficit is Really a Capital Surplus.” Investor’s Business Daily. October

5, 2006.

“Kelo Turned Upside Down is Still a Farce.” Investor’s Business Daily. May 26,

2006.

“More Anti-Wal-Mart Hysteria.” The Providence Journal. April 26, 2006.

Reprinted in Columbus Business First and East Bay Business Times.

“How to Reform Immigration Laws.” The Atlanta Journal Constitution. April 4,

2006. Reprinted in Cincinnati Enquirer, Eagle Tribune, and Salem News.

“Economic Myths of Immigration.” San Diego Union-Tribune. December 28,

2005. Reprinted in Providence Journal, Sacramento Business Journal, San Jose Business Journal and East Bay Business Times.

“Legislating Price Won’t Aid Katrina Recovery.” (with Art Carden) Orlando

Business Journal. September 16, 2005. Reprinted in East Bay Business Times.

“’Bubble’ Doesn’t Spell Trouble for Bay Area Home Prices.” San Francisco

Business Times. August 19, 2005. Reprinted in Business First of

Columbus.

“Don’t Get Into a Lather Over Sweatshops.” Christian Science Monitor. August

2, 2005. Reprinted in Fredericksburg Free Lance Star.

“Africa Needs Investment, Not Insanity.” Investor’s Business Daily. June 29,

2005.

“Immigration Reform that Both Sides Can Support.” Phoenix Business Journal.

May 27, 2005. Reprinted in San Francisco Business Times, June 3, 2005.

‘Bush League’ Trade Policy Won’t Hit the Target.” San Jose Business Journal.

April 29, 2005.

“It’s High Time to Terminate Farm Subsidies.” Investor’s Business Daily. March

28, 2005.

“Don’t Regulate Cyber Security.” San Diego Union-Tribune. Wednesday March

2, 2005. Reprinted in San Jose Business Journal and Orlando Business Journal.

“Baseball Rules Are Off-Limits To Authorities.” Investor’s Business Daily

Wednesday December 8, 2004.

“The Pilgrims’ Real Thanksgiving Lesson.” San Diego Union-Tribune and

Charlotte Observer. Thursday November 25, 2004.

“Only Special Interests Win With Gaming Initiatives.” East Bay Business Times.

Monday October 11, 2004.

“How to Make Monterey County More Affordable.” Watsonville Register-

Pajaronian (reprinted in 4 other Monterey County newspapers)

August 21, 2004.

“A Huge Hidden Tax on New Homes.” The Orange County Register (with

Edward Stringham) June 25, 2004.

“Building Affordable Housing.” The Sacramento Bee (with Edward Stringham)

June 1, 2004.

“Outsourcing Benefits Silicon Valley.” Silicon Valley Biz Inc. Friday April 9,

2004.

“Markets Created a Pot of Gold in Ireland.” FOX News.com, Tuesday April 15,

2003.

“Is Terror Good For The Economy?” The Free Market, Vol. 19 No. 12.

December 2001.

“Happy Tax Day.” Washington Post, April 16, 2001.

Television and Radio Appearances

WTPL 107.7 FM Concord NH. December 12, 2007.

WGCV 620 AM Columbia SC. “Armstrong Williams Show.” December 11, 2007.

WTPL 107.7 FM Concord NH. November 13, 2007.

CNN. “Lou Dobbs Tonight.” August 13, 2007.

WDRC-AM Hartford. “Dan Lovallo Program.” July 31, 2007.

KQED-TV Channel 9 PBS San Francisco. “Immigration Calculations.”

Documentary. June 29, 2007.

WKGO 810 AM San Francisco. May 1, 2007.

SHOWTIME. “Penn and Teller: Bullshit.” March 29, 2007.

KNBR 680 AM San Francisco. “Bay Area Housing Report.” February 17, 2007.

KALW 91.7 FM San Francisco. “At Work with Marty Nemko.” January 28, 2007.

KFNX 1100 AM Phoenix. “Charles Goyette Show.” December 13, 2006.

NBC 11 News San Jose, with George Kiriyama. September 26, 2006

NBC 11 News San Jose, with George Kiriyama. September 6, 2006.

CBS Radio Network. May 23, 2006.

NBC 11 News San Jose, with Scott Budman. May 1, 2006.

WBAL 1090 AM Baltimore. “Ron Smith Show.” May 1, 2006.

Westford One CBS Affiliate. “Lars Larson Show.” Nationally syndicated. May

1, 2006.

KNX News Radio 1070 AM Los Angeles. May 1, 2006.

KDK 1090 AM Pittsburg, with Fred Hansberger. May 1, 2006.

KGNW 820 AM Seattle, with Thor Tolo. April 28, 2006.

KRON 4 News San Jose. March 28, 2006.

KCBS 740 AM San Francisco. March 26, 2006.

MSNBC “The Situation with Tucker Carlson.” October 18, 2005.

WKGO 88.5 AM San Francisco. “The Gene Burn Show.” September 20, 2005.

WTPL 107.7 FM Concord NH. “Arne Arnesen Show.” August 10, 2005.

KCBS 740 AM San Francisco. May 29, 2005.

KKUP 91.5 FM Cuppertino “Free and Clear” with Don Comier, April 13, 2005.

KGAB 650 AM Cheyenne WY. with Dave Chaffin, February 23, 2005.

KITS-FM Live 105.3 FM San Francisco, with Harry Osibin, February 13, 2005.

KIRO 710 AM Seattle, the Mike Webb Show, February 11, 2005.

KTAR 620AM Phoenix, February 9, 2005.

KXPR 90.9 FM Capital Public Radio Sacramento (NPR affiliate) December 14,

2004.

WAUR 930AM Chicago, “Freedom 21 Radio” December 8, 2004. Rebroadcast in 10 other markets nation wide.

KKUP 91.5 FM Cuppertino “Free and Clear” with Don Comier, October 13,

2004.

KITS-FM Live 105.3 FM San Francisco, with Harry Osibin, September 5, 2004.

NBC3 News San Jose, with Greg Gurule’, August 6, 2004.

KQED 88.5 FM San Francisco May 13, 2004.

KKUP 91.5FM Cuppertino “Free and Clear” with Don Comier, May 12, 2004.

KGO News Radio San Francisco 810 AM, April 19, 2004.

KKUP 91.5 FM Cuppertino “Free and Clear” with Don Comier, April 10, 2004.

KKUP 91.5 FM Cuppertino “Free and Clear” with Don Comier, March 10, 2004.

KSBW with Felix Cortez NBC Salinas-Monterey-Santa Cruz, November 14, 2003.

Honors, Awards, and Fellowships

Society for the Development of Austrian Economics. Paper of the Year.

Southern Economics Association meetings. November 2007.

Mont Pelerin Society. Elected member. November 2006.

Salzburg Fellow. San Jose State University. Summer 2006.

American Institute for Economic Research, Visiting Research Fellow, 2000-2002,

2004, 2005.

SJSU College of Social Sciences Faculty Research Grant. Summer 2005.

Fellowship to attend Mont Pelerin Society Meeting. Summer 2005.

Hayek Fund for Scholars Travel Grant. Institute for Humane Studies. Summer

2005.

Fellowship to attend Mont Pelerin Society Meeting. Summer 2004.

Israel M Kirzner Award for Outstanding Dissertation in Austrian Economics,

2003.

Mercatus Center, Social Change and International Political Economy Fellow,

2002-2003.

James Buchanan Center for Political Economy, Student Fellow, 2002-2003.

Graduate Research Assistantship, 2000-2002.

Roy A. Foulke- Dun & Bradstreet Graduate Fellow, 2000-2001.

B.S. Magna Cum Laude.

Beta Gamma Sigma, Management Honor Society 2000.

Outstanding Academic Achievement in Economics Award, UMass Lowell 2000.

Chancellor’s Medal, UMass Lowell 2000.

Charles J. Hoff Scholar, 1998-2000.

Academic Presentations

“Corruption, Economic Freedom, and Growth.” Association of Private Enterprise

Education. Cancun, Mexico. April 2007. Southern Economics

Association. New Orleans, LA. November 2007.

“Immigration: An Economic Defense of a Free Labor Market.” Sonoma Council

of World Affairs, San Francisco Council of World Affairs, San Jose State University, Smith Center at Cal State East Bay, Independent Institute, Institute for Humane Studies. Fall 2006-Summer 2007.

“Ireland and Economic Freedom,” “The World Bank: 50 Years of Failed

Policies,” “Sweatshop Wages and Labor Standards in a Global Economy.”

Bryn Mawr College. Institute for Humane Studies Summer Seminar.

June 2006.

“Society Without a State: The Experience of Somalia.” Austrian Scholars

Conference. Auburn AL. March 2006, Association of Private Enterprise

Education. Las Vegas Nevada. and Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey CA. April 2006. Southern Economics Association, Charleston SC. November 2006.

“Should a Free Society Limit Immigration?” University of Louisville. March 2006.

“An Experimental Investigation of Hobbesian Jungles.” West Virginia

University. February 2006.

“Experimental Evidence on the Deadweight Cost of Theft in Hobbesian Jungles.”

Southern Economics Association. Washington, DC. November 2005.

“Command and Control Urban Planning.” Reason Foundation Dynamic Cities

Conference. Las Vegas, NV. November 2005.

“Sweatshops and Third World Living Standards: Are the Jobs Worth the Sweat?”

University of St. Thomas/Houston World Affairs Council, Houston, TX.

October 2005. Hamden-Sydney College. March 2006. Capital

University. October 2006. Santa Clara University. October 2006.

“Immigration Wars: Open or Closed Borders.” Independent Institute, Oakland,

CA. September 2005.

“Foreign Aid and Economic Freedom: Are They Related?” American Institute for

Economic Research, Great Barrington, MA. July 2005.

“The Limits of Markets,” “The World Bank: 50 Years of Development

Failure,” and “Lessons from Ireland’s Growth.” Duke University.

Institute for Humane Studies Summer Seminar. June 2005.

“What Should We Learn From the Celtic Tiger?” Westmont College. Santa

Barbara, CA. April 2005.

“The Economics of Immigration.” The Philadelphia Society Meetings. Miami,