Economics and Social Issues:
Markets and the Marginalized

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The theme for the fall 2017 program was Economics and Social Issues: Markets and the Marginalized. Participants explored a number of questions concerning both historical and contemporary views espoused by economists on issues related to marginalized groups.

More specifically, participants engaged scholarship addressing how markets and governments either help or hinder disadvantaged groups, the role that race has played in the history of economic thought, the effects of discrimination in labor markets, the consequences of mass incarceration, views on the gender pay gap and the persistence of poverty among native populations in the United States.

In October 2017, participants attended a summit hosted at Southern Methodist University (SMU) with participants from the programs at SMU, Baylor University and the University of Central Arkansas. The summit featured formal remarks from Prof. Walter E. Williams focused on his research examining the economics of discrimination and the role of government in a free society more generally. Participants also engaged in interactive discussion groups on issues related to the program theme of economics, social issues, and marginalized groups.

The schedule of readings and topics of discussion for the fall 2017 McLane Teammates Reading Program can be found at the following link:

McLane Teammates Reading Program — Fall 2017 Reading List

Please contact the Free Market Institute with any questions by email at free.market@ttu.edu or by phone at 806.742.7138.

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More general information about the program and application process can be found on the McLane Teammates Reading Program page.