Political Economy Reading Program

The Political Economy Reading Program is a one semester, non-credit discussion colloquium in which undergraduate students explore classic works and contemporary debates that address important questions in political economy. The Free Market Institute hosts this program at both Texas Tech University and Angelo State University. Participants meet weekly in the evening (dinner is provided) with a faculty member, who facilitates discussion among the students.

Full-time undergraduate students from any field of study are eligible and encouraged to apply. Participants that successfully complete the program receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Instructions about how to apply for the Fall 2025 Political Economy Reading Program will be posted on this page when that information becomes available.

If you have questions about the Political Economy Reading Program, or if you would like to receive updates and announcements about future programs, please contact the Free Market Institute at fmi@angelo.edu or 806.742.7138.

Reading Programs Archive

The Political Economy Reading Program launched as the McLane Teammates Reading Program during the spring 2015 semester at Texas Tech University with financial support from McLane Company, Inc. The program has frequently featured a 'summit program' in which participants travel to meet with students from other universities — Southern Methodist University, Baylor University, and University of Central Arkansas — and a keynote speaker, typically a scholar whose work they read and discuss during the program.

In spring 2020, the Institute expanded the program to include students at Angelo State University. Since the fall 2022 semester, it has operated as the Political Economy Reading Program on both campuses. A listing of past programs — including links to the corresponding reading lists — follows.

Spring 2015 – McLane Teammates Reading Program
Economic Freedom and Entrepreneurship

Summit Program — March 2015 — Texas Tech University — Lubbock, TX
Keynote Speaker
Freedom, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation
Peter Boettke, George Mason University

Participating Universities
Texas Tech University
Southern Methodist University
Baylor University

Political Economy Reading Program

Reading Programs Archive

Spring 2015 – McLane Teammates Reading ProgramEconomic Freedom and Entrepreneurship

Fall 2015 – McLane Teammates Reading ProgramClassic and Contemporary Controversies in Political Economy

Spring 2016 – McLane Teammates Reading ProgramMarkets and Economic Development:Does Capitalism Help the Poor?

Fall 2016 – McLane Teammates Reading ProgramMarkets and Morality

Spring 2017 – McLane Teammates Reading ProgramCities, Local Government, and Local Governance

Fall 2017 – McLane Teammates Reading ProgramEconomics and Social Issues:Markets and the Marginalized

Spring 2018 – McLane Teammates Reading ProgramFreedom and Human Flourishing:Poverty, Prosperity, and Quality of Life around the World

Fall 2018 – McLane Teammates Reading ProgramThe Role of Government in a Free Society

Fall 2018 – Political Economy Reading ProgramTopics in Applied Political Economy

Spring 2019 – McLane Teammates Reading ProgramThe Economics of Knowledge

Fall 2019 – McLane Teammates Reading ProgramThe Past, Present, and Future of Work

Spring 2020 – McLane Teammates Reading ProgramPaternalism

Fall 2020 – McLane Teammates Reading ProgramExploring Inequality

Fall 2020 – Political Economy Reading ProgramPrinciples of Applied Political Economy

Spring 2021 – McLane Teammates Reading ProgramEconomics, Evolution, and the Environment

Fall 2021 – McLane Teammates Reading ProgramFreedom and Human Flourishing:Poverty, Prosperity, and Quality of Life around the World

Spring 2022 – Political Economy Reading ProgramSocialism

Fall 2022 – Political Economy Reading ProgramInternational Economics and Policy

Spring 2023 – Political Economy Reading ProgramMonetary and Fiscal Policy

Fall 2023 – Political Economy Reading ProgramRace and Economics

Spring 2024 – Political Economy Reading ProgramAntitrust

Fall 2024 – Political Economy Reading ProgramDemocracy: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (TTU)

Fall 2024 – Political Economy Reading ProgramExploring Markets and Society (ASU)

Spring 2025 – Political Economy Reading ProgramPublic Health and Political Economy

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Spring 2015 – McLane Teammates Reading Program
Economic Freedom and Entrepreneurship

Fall 2015 – McLane Teammates Reading Program
Classic and Contemporary Controversies in Political Economy

Spring 2016 – McLane Teammates Reading Program
Markets and Economic Development:
Does Capitalism Help the Poor?

Fall 2016 – McLane Teammates Reading Program
Markets and Morality

Spring 2017 – McLane Teammates Reading Program
Cities, Local Government, and Local Governance

Fall 2017 – McLane Teammates Reading Program
Economics and Social Issues:
Markets and the Marginalized

Spring 2018 – McLane Teammates Reading Program
Freedom and Human Flourishing:
Poverty, Prosperity, and Quality of Life around the World

Fall 2018 – McLane Teammates Reading Program
The Role of Government in a Free Society

Fall 2018 – Political Economy Reading Program
Topics in Applied Political Economy

Spring 2019 – McLane Teammates Reading Program
The Economics of Knowledge

Fall 2019 – McLane Teammates Reading Program
The Past, Present, and Future of Work

Spring 2020 – McLane Teammates Reading Program
Paternalism

Fall 2020 – McLane Teammates Reading Program
Exploring Inequality

Fall 2020 – Political Economy Reading Program
Principles of Applied Political Economy

Spring 2021 – McLane Teammates Reading Program
Economics, Evolution, and the Environment

Fall 2021 – McLane Teammates Reading Program
Freedom and Human Flourishing:
Poverty, Prosperity, and Quality of Life around the World

Spring 2022 – Political Economy Reading Program
Socialism

Fall 2022 – Political Economy Reading Program
International Economics and Policy

Spring 2023 – Political Economy Reading Program
Monetary and Fiscal Policy

Fall 2023 – Political Economy Reading Program
Race and Economics

Spring 2024 – Political Economy Reading Program
Antitrust

Fall 2024 – Political Economy Reading Program
Democracy: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (TTU)

Fall 2024 – Political Economy Reading Program
Exploring Markets and Society (ASU)

Spring 2025 – Political Economy Reading Program
Public Health and Political Economy