Politics, Philosophy and Economics Reading Group
The PP&E Reading Group allows student participants to wrestle with ideas that help us understand the world, how to discuss them with individuals and groups with different ideological worldviews, and find ways to advocate for productive change that fosters human flourishing in a free society. The topics differ from semester to semester and are directed by a different faculty member who is the expert in a particular area of study.
The theme for Spring 2022 is “Civil Society and Social Change: How do we enact change?”
Current Readings:
- Jane Jacobs – The Death and Life of Great American Cities
- David Peter Stroh – Systems Thinking for Social Change: A Practical Guide to Solving Complex Problems, Avoiding Unintended Consequences, and Achieving Lasting Results
- Anthony Gill – “The Comparative Endurance and Efficiency of Religion: A Public choice Perspective.” 2020.
- Anthony Gill – “An Exchange Theory of Social Justice: A “Gains from Trade under Uncertainty.” 2019.
- Wallace E. Oates – “Toward a Second-Generation Theory of Fiscal Federalism.” 2005.
- Barry Weingast – “Second Generation Fiscal Federalism.” 2009.
- Elinor Ostrom – “Collective Action and the Evolution of Social Norms.” 2000.
- Vincent Ostrom, Charles Tiebout, and Robert Warren – “The Organization of Government in Metropolitan Areas: A Theoretical Inquiry.” 1961.
- Tridib Banerjee – “The Future of Public Space: Beyond Invented Streets and Reinvented Places.” 2001.
- Ernst Fehr and Urs Fischbacher – “Social Norms and Human Cooperation.” 2004.
Students meet six times during the semester to discuss the readings for the evening. The discussion is a socratic-style format, designed after Liberty Fund’s Pierre Goodrich method of organized dialogue. The discussions are policed by a discussion leader who maintains the queue and guides the threads of conversation during the 90-minute session. Conversations, though, are open-ended, have no agenda, and are meant to deepen the thinking of student and faculty participants.
Undergraduate Internship Program
Reason Policy Analyst
Join the ranks of expert policy analysis at the Reason Foundation through a DeVoe Moore Center internship program. As a policy analyst, you will work on issue-specific policy analysis, from education policy to drug reform, with experts at the Reason Foundation. You will gain experience in the policy analysis world, produce research publications, and get into a pool for a potential job opportunity after you graduate.
Assistantships
Assistantships for graduate and undergraduate students provide financial support for students to work closely with Center faculty on research projects and to contribute to reports that may appear in scholarly journals and books. See the Center Director for more information.
Market-Oriented Transit Reform
Florida State University’s Market-Oriented Transit Reform (MOTR) initiative is dedicated to providing resources and insight from research and best practices to citizens and policymakers focused on improving the productivity and performance of their public transit systems. The site intends to be a portal, or clearinghouse, on the entire range of initiatives that encompass market-oriented approaches to enhancing the effectiveness of transit systems. While our focus is on reform in the United States, this site will also spotlight case studies, perspectives, and applications from around the world.
Visit Florida State University’s Market-Oriented Transit Reform (MOTR) initiative at: http://www.coss.fsu.edu/transitreform/ .
Social Entrepreneurship Course
This interactive workshop explores the role of entrepreneurship and microenterprise in economic development in the U.S. and abroad. The class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 am until 10:45 am in the DeVoe Moore Center conference room, and draws on the real-world experience of social entrepreneurs that are involved in, or have actively developed economic opportunity and empowerment programs as a way of promoting economic growth and community development. Each week uses a practical goal, objective, or experience to stimulate discussion among participants as a way to understand what works and what doesn’t in the applied world of economic development project planning and implementation. Weekly topics vary based on input from seminar participants. The course is open to all, but targeted toward juniors, seniors, and professional master’s level students.
Contact devoemoorecenter@gmail.com for more information!
Undergraduate Research Application
Click here for the application
Undergraduate Research Competition Winners
The following undergraduate students were awarded research stipends and travel costs through a competitive Undergraduate Research Competition sponsored by the DeVoe L. Moore Center.
The Selection Committee consisted of the following full-time faculty members in the Department of Economics: Randall G. Holcombe, Joseph Calhoun, Katie Sherron, Joab Corey, and Sam Staley.
2014-2015
§ Alexander Gordon (Economics) “Beyond Standardized Assessments: An Econometric Approach to Rethinking Regulation of the Charter School Market” E-mail: adg13b@my.fsu.edu
§ Rodrigo Guerrero (Economics, Pure Mathematics, & Music) “When Anti-Corruption Agencies Promote Corruption and Inefficiency: A Case Study of Peru’s Government Procurement Process” E-mail: rjg11@my.fsu.edu
§ Rodrigo’s paper will be co-authored by Alonso Guerrero (Economics) at Universidad del Pacifico in Lima, Peru. E-mail: am.guerreroc@alum.up.edu.pe
2013-2014
- Manav Sheth (Economics & Finance) “Accounting for Differences in Permit Approval times for Shopping Center in the City of Tallahassee” Accepted for presentation at the undergraduate research competition, Association of Private Enterprise Education, Las Vegas, 2014
- Spencer Wilkins (Economics) “The Impact of the 2007 Financial Crisis on Self-Employment” Accepted for presentation at the undergraduate research competition, Association of Private Enterprise Education, Las Vegas, 2014
Workshop on State and Local Regulation
This workshop provides a forum to discuss and critique relevant research proposals. Students working on dissertations, other graduate students, and Center faculty make presentations about their research. Scholars from other institutions are invited to present their work as well. For more information, see the Center Director.
Leadership Programs
Undergraduate Programs:
Young America’s Foundation is committed to ensuring that increasing numbers of young Americans understand and are inspired by the ideas of individual freedom, free enterprise, and constitutional values. (This chapter can be found on Nole Central).
Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) is the largest, most active, and fastest-growing pro-market organization on America’s college campuses. With more than 900 YAL chapters, YAL seeks to identify, educate, train, and mobilize young people committed to market principles. (This chapter can be found on Nole Central).
LI provides training in campaigns, fundraising, grassroots organizing, youth politics, and communications. The Institute teaches students how to succeed in politics, government, and the media. The Institute offers 47 types of training schools, workshops, and seminars; a free employment placement service; and a national field program that trains leaders to organize campus groups.
Graduate Programs:
Adam Smith Society [Business School Students]
The Adam Smith Society is a nationwide, chapter-based association of MBA students and business leaders who work to promote on campus debate and discussion about the moral, social, and economic benefits of capitalism.
Benjamin Rush Institute [Medical School Students]
BRI is a 501(c)3 tax-deductible public charity that unites medical students, residents, fellows, and doctors from across the political spectrum — as well as members of the general public — who believe that the medical profession calls its practitioners to serve their patients, rather than the government.
Post-graduation Programs:
James Madison Institute Leaders Fellowship
The JMI Leaders Fellowship is a year-long program designed for the purpose of encouraging and promoting the growth, development, knowledge, and networks of under-40-year-old professionals in the state of Florida.
The Bastiat Society recognizes that everyone benefits when peaceful and profitable trade is allowed to thrive. They engage the private sector to foster a network of principled business people. Their mission is to give business men and women the tools they need to advance a free and prosperous society.
America’s Future Foundation recruits and cultivates young professionals to become effective, lifelong advocates who will inspire their peers to embrace market principles. AFF is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1995.