2014 Public Choice Society Meetings
I am pleased to announce the conference program for the 2014 Public Choice Society meetings. As many of you know, the Society was founded by James M. Buchanan, Gordon Tullock, Mancur Olson, Vincent Ostrom, and others whose life work was dedicated to understanding human interaction in non-market exchange.
Last year the Society celebrated its 50th Anniversary by returning to one of its favorite venues, the historic Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans. This year, we have the pleasure of returning to Charleston, South Carolina, and our first visit to the Francis Marion Hotel.
The Society has experienced a surge of interest among established and emerging scholars. This year’s program features well over 300 papers and about 280 presenters. Highlights include our four plenary speakers: Dani Rodrik on ideas, Sam Peltzman on the socialist revival, James Gwartney on the public choice revolution in economics education, and Chris Coyne on government failure in humanitarian aid. There are also special sessions to commemorate the contributions of Charles K. Rowley and Gordon Tullock, and panel discussions of important new books.
It’s been a privilege to serve as President of the Society these past two years. At the end of the 2014 conference, I’ll step into the role as Secretary/Treasurer. Along with the existing Past Presidents and our newly created board of Directors, my new role will allow us to establish continuity and institutional memory for the coming years and decades. The outlook for the Public Choice Society is strong. Here’s to the next 50 years!