Comparative Advantages to the PhD in Economics
Austrian Economics
George Mason University is the premier place for the study of Austrian Economics by faculty, alumni, and graduate students. Mason offers courses, brown bag lunches, colloquia, and the seminars in Austrian Economics series. Past speakers include: Mancur Olson, James Buchanan, Israel Kirzner, Larry White, Mario Rizzo, Roger Garrison, and Peter Boettke. Furthermore, The Mercatus Center offers a limited number of graduate assistantships to Mason students who are interested in Austrian Economics.
Public Choice
George Mason University was the home of Nobel Laureate James Buchanan. Dr. Buchanan published ground breaking work in Public Choice and Constitutional Political Economy. He was the coauthor, with Gordon Tullock, of The Calculus of Consent and served as the Executive Director of the Center for the Study of Public Choice until his death in 2013.
The Center for Study of Public Choice funds students interested in Virginia Political Economy and supports two public choice seminars a week: an academic colloquium and an informal lunch. The Virginia School of Political Economy examines a variety of other subjects giving George Mason a unique perspective. For example, the following classes incorporate public choice theory: Industrial/Organization, Macroeconomics, and Monetary Theory.
Public Policy
Given George Mason University's proximity to Washington, D.C., and because most classes are held in the evening, many students find policy related work in either the public or private sector while taking classes. This provides students with a unique opportunity to apply their learning outside the classroom. Many of our graduates continue to work in the area of policy after graduation.