Shughart Wm Econ
LI
[Articles: How Taxpayer Subsidies for Students Drives Up College Tuition https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/08/how_taxpayer_subsidies_for_students_drives_up_college_tuition.html
Quickly on the heels of the release " Love Gov " -- the Independent Institute's satirical videos series on meddlesome government -- a new study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York concludes that federal aid to college students raises the cost of higher education. Duh!](https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eamericanthinker%2Ecom%2Farticles%2F2015%2F08%2Fhow_taxpayer_subsidies_for_students_drives_up_college_tuition%2Ehtml&urlhash=sg-Q&mt=8wUgsDzXwF8UTxKzmrp64rHHjanvZ97XBIz3acP3zlXh18anfAGCGuwkyTJ8pNYTu-hAOKAhxo0uacpaKbMIs1UX&isSdui=true)
[Obamacare's Tanning Tax Causes a Slow Burn National Review
A supposed revenue-generating provision of Obamacare is an expensive bust. Among the many items buried in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was a new federal tax on indoor tanning salons that added 10 percent to customers' bills.](https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Enationalreview%2Ecom%2F2015%2F08%2Fobamacares-tanning-tax-causes-slow-burn%2F&urlhash=OCp1&mt=WzLHW8DtVVXHFBV5yR4u3TjhZm_qOzO7owe0xSuGuNzLNW1aTAExG-Pr01pLB72uYfpOcVGRWqMVaiikHrv_XIBX&isSdui=true)
[Stealth DST:
[https://lnkd.in/gM5brYMT](https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnkd%2Ein%2FgM5brYMT&urlhash=PrVy&mt=ejctxCovgreRjVSTwvfUaKCFbE6ceHI-MluUOS57WWyXrSasnM823JbRIx2oR1mrMqL40Boc3oISyiU_MyAiw4CDwrLZSv2w4Q0aWHwv6IyV3wSQ1ugUIyk&isSdui=true)](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7466859287391428608/)[
Time to move on from the daylight saving time obsessionTime to move on from the daylight saving time obsession
washingtonexaminer.com](https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ewashingtonexaminer%2Ecom%2Fop-eds%2F4586174%2Fmove-on-from-daylight-saving-time-obsession%2F&urlhash=-TFw&mt=YEQ1AsryG7lEZfUMBcU8_sC5yhn84NJ4IQsXOfZC0o23HprNDtrdyZi24WFo86c7eZMRyOifqysG1nLj8iIcuMpnCayr8uX_PPvUDiYJQ_Jwbb9MVR5ciNY&isSdui=true)
SPECT
We Celebrate Labor Day. Why Not ‘Capital Day’?We Celebrate Labor Day. Why Not ‘Capital](https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fspectator%2Eorg%2Fwe-celebrate-labor-day-why-not-capital-day%2F&urlhash=MKWU&mt=-_C6zd2mXu8O1dH-KT8vt8LwmGStk1pyuo1rmUOqT75WpguURYjpuczhT_1VQRW9dGmd2HK_WenEUSzWoNj7pw867Y1ZvBken5gxjyK3lkRt3cCnNpH5JCY&isSdui=true) DAY
[Research Director and Senior Fellow The Independent Institute
Aug 2013 - Present · 12 yrs 11 mos
Oakland, CA USA](https://www.linkedin.com/company/116689/)
[
The Independent Institute
The Independent Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan, scholarly research and educational organization that sponsors in-depth studies of critical social and economic issues.](https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-shughart-b33b2a20/overlay/Position/153250513/treasury/?profileId=ACoAAARwL9cB1NM5E39vEfGmFkV8MAsigSF7llM)
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[J. Fish Smith Professor in Public Choice Utah State University
Aug 2011 - Present · 14 yrs 11 mos
Logan, UT](https://www.linkedin.com/school/7812/)
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[F. A. P. Barnard Distinguished Professor of Economics University of Mississippi
Aug 2006 - May 2011 · 4 yrs 10 mos
Oxford, MS](https://www.linkedin.com/school/11076/)
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[University of Mississippi 17 yrs 6 mos
Oxford, MS](https://www.linkedin.com/school/11076/)
- Robert M. Hearin Professor of Economics 1998 - 2006 · 8 yrs
- Professor of Economics and Holder of the Self Chair of Free Enterprise Aug 1988 - 2005 · 16 yrs 6 mos
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[Associate Professor of Economics George Mason University
Aug 1985 - Jun 1988 · 2 yrs 11 mos
Fairfax, VA](https://www.linkedin.com/school/5489/)
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[Assistant/Associate Professor of Economics Clemson University
Aug 1983 - Jul 1985 · 2 yrs](https://www.linkedin.com/school/163107/)
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[Staff Economist/Special Assistant to the Director of the Bureau of Economics Federal Trade Commission
Jun 1979 - Jun 1983 · 4 yrs 1 mo
Washington DC-Baltimore Area](https://www.linkedin.com/company/163780/)
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[Visiting Lecturer The University of Arizona
Aug 1978 - May 1979 · 10 mos
Greater Tucson Area](https://www.linkedin.com/school/4734/)
404 BLOG amyrohman
Projects
Koch Scholar Blog
Aug 2012 – Present AMY
[Texas A&M University Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Economics
1975 – 1978](https://www.linkedin.com/school/4556/)
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[Texas A&M University Master of Science (M.S.), Economics
1969 – 1970](https://www.linkedin.com/school/4556/)
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[Texas A&M University Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Economics
1965 – 1969](https://www.linkedin.com/school/4556/)
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STUDENT PAPER
Examining the Koch Scholars Program
:{on November 25, 2014
Seventy-five applications sat in a pile on Professor William Shughart’s desk with 75 students all wanting to hear the same words: “Congratulations! We would like you to participate in Utah State University’s Koch Scholars Program.”
The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business website defines Koch Scholars Program as “a select group of intellectually curious faculty and students … who are interested in how politics and economics affect individual freedom and responsibility.”
Each semester, 15 students are admitted to the Koch Scholars Program, funded by the Charles G. Koch Foundation (CGK Foundation).
A businessman and philanthropist, Charles Koch, is chairman of the board and CEO of Koch Industries and co-owns the company with his brother, David Koch.
According to the Forbes list of “The World’s Most Powerful People,” the Koch brothers have built a $43.6 billion empire. Their product interest ranges from the Dixie cup to Stainmaster Carpet.
The Koch Brothers have made frequent appearances in the news lately with headlines like “Animal Rights Groups Claims Abuse by Koch Foods” from CBS Local, “The Koch Brothers Sneak into School” from Huffington Post and “The Koch Network Spent $100 Million This Election Cycle” from the National Journal.
When asked whether he considered their ethics to be in question, Professor Shughart declined to answer.
Another professor, however, did answer.
“I don’t even know who the Koch brothers are,” said Chris Fawson of the economics and finance department. “Do they have names?”
Fawson was a Koch Professor for four years and is an advocate for the program.
“I think it’s one of the best mentoring opportunities on campus for students from across campus. … I loved doing Koch Scholars,” he said.
With Charles G. Koch Professor of Political Economy Randy Simmons, Fawson played a critical role in introducing the Koch Scholars Program to USU.
“The program was founded by Randy Simmons and Chris Fawson,” said Shughart, who is now a Koch Professor. “We are not influenced one bit by the Koch Brothers. They finance this program because they like what we do. We’re not doing what they want us to do. They like what we do. They fund us, I don’t know, probably $80,000 or $100,000 a year. But all the money goes to books, to food and stipends.”
The foundation grant agreement with USU includes a provision that the Koch foundation be involved in reviewing candidates for tenure-tracked professor positions and requires that those hired with Koch funding follow certain objectives and principles, which are outlined in the agreement.
In this instance the CGK Foundation, an outside entity, has the ability to reject or approve the hiring of certain university staff.
Under in Section 2(c)(iii) of Terms of Agreement, it reads, “USU agrees to recruit and maintain the Professors in accordance with the Objectives and Purposes.”
“Many of our best students have participated in (Koch Scholars),” said Michael Lyons of the political science department. “Some have liked it. Some have walked away as critics. And, you know, I don’t think it’s in any sense harming our students.”
The Koch Brothers are characterized by their conservative orientation, Lyons said, and it strikes him as “highly unfortunate” to see its influence at a university in one of the most conservative states in the country, “where the last thing in the world we should be doing is reinforcing conservative ideology.”
“I don’t think ideology belongs in a university,” said Lyons. “The exploration of values does, but … the worst thing you can do is simply conform to the existing cultural environment of the state, to reinforce everything everybody thinks already. That accomplishes nothing in terms of teaching students critical thinking.”
It has been suggested that Koch Scholars impedes on the free exchange of ideas by promoting certain ideologies.
“I think that’s insanity,” Fawson said. “There’s no ideology that’s promoted, other than to think critically about a set of readings.”
Samples of readings for the scholars include “Wealth of Nations” by Adam Smith, “Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy”by Joseph Schumpter, “Ender’s Game”by Orson Scott Card and “The Hunger Games“ by Suzanne Collins.
“I did not feel manipulated into any schools of thought,” said Joslyn Olsen, a former Koch Scholar. “I will say, however, that my own beliefs about politics and government certainly evolved over the course of the semester. I believe that was a natural progression of new-found viewpoints and insights rather than any form of coercion.”
Many students in the political science and economics departments participate in the Koch Scholars Program.
“Political scientists have a responsibility to explore political ideologies, and economists have a responsibility to explore ideologies of economic systems,” Lyons said. “So it’s a legitimate field of inquiry, but the question is, do scholars make an attempt to present, in good faith, all the possible ideological or value perspectives on questions? Or is there a deliberate attempt to slant things? Discussions about ideology are completely appropriate and, I think, necessary. Advocacy of ideology doesn’t belong at a university.”
Lyons has never participated in the Koch Scholars Program and as such, does not necessarily believe the program advocates for certain ideology.
“It would be fascinating to see what the nature of our agreement with the Koch brothers is,” he said.
Of the allegations in the media against Charles Koch, Fawson said, “I think that humans are complex people that have a variety of virtues and vices. All of us have them, right? So can people write things critical of Charles Koch? Sure. He’s not perfect, right? The mere fact that they use the word ‘Koch brothers’ means nothing to me. That’s not a name. That’s not a person. That’s how you villainize people; you label them a certain way and attack the label that you’ve created.”
Fawson encourages students who are concerned about participating in Koch Scholars to broaden their perspective.
“Follow your own conscience,” said Fawson. “If you’re uncomfortable with what somebody does, don’t associate with them.”
— *brennakelly818@gmail.com
---
ggl 6 26
[### Charles Koch gave $25m to our university. Has it become a ...
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com › us-news › may](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/02/charles-koch-gave-25m-to-our-university-has-it-become-a-rightwing-mouthpiece)
May 2, 2019 — And Randy Simmons, who had been named the Koch professor, became the center's outreach director. Since then, faculty at USU have voted to ...Read more
[### Examining the Koch Scholars Program
The Utah Statesman
https://usustatesman.com › examining-the-koch-scholar...](https://usustatesman.com/examining-the-koch-scholars-program/)
Nov 25, 2014 — “The program was founded by Randy Simmons and Chris Fawson,” said Shughart, who is now a Koch Professor. “We are not influenced one bit by the ...Read more
[### A Lifetime of Impact - Huntsman | USU - Utah State University
Utah State University
https://huntsman.usu.edu › news › magazine › articles](https://huntsman.usu.edu/news/magazine/articles/2024/a-lifetime-of-impact)
After 44 years at Utah State University, Dr. Randy Simmons has retired at the top of his game. Simmons is a lifetime Aggie, first as an undergraduate ...Read more
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[### Fellows - Leading Scholars at the Independent Institute
Independent Institute
https://www.independent.org › About](https://www.independent.org/about/fellows/)
May 27, 2025 — ... Utah State University. Randy Simmons. Professor of Economics, Utah State University. T. Alexander T ...Read more
[### why so little public choice in political science? - Springer Nature
Springer Nature Link
https://link.springer.com › Public Choice](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11127-015-0265-8)
by RT Simmons · 2015 · Cited by 3 — Simmons spent 10 years in city government as a member of a city ... Shughart (2015) explains that he uses Shepsle in his public choice ...Read more
[### Students petition for transparency of Koch Foundation financial ...
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https://usustatesman.com › students-petition-for-transpa...](https://usustatesman.com/students-petition-for-transparency-of-koch-foundation-financial-donations-2/)
Randy Simmons and Dr. Ryan Yonk, have also published researchand editorials critical of clean energy subsidies, though there is no evidence to suggest that ...
[### What Did Economists Do? Euvoluntary, Voluntary, and ...
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by WF Shughart · 2014 · Cited by 17 — We thank Damon Cann, Peter Leeson, Randy Simmons, Michael. Thomas, and Ryan Yonk for helpful comments, as well as Dwight Lee and J. R. Clark for organizing ...Read more
[### The Utah Statesman, November 25, 2014 by USU Libraries
Issuu
https://issuu.com › usudigitalcommons › docs › novem...](https://issuu.com/usudigitalcommons/docs/november25_2014)
Nov 25, 2014 — “The program was founded by Randy Simmons and Chris Fawson,” said Shughart, who is now a Koch Professor. “We are not influenced one bit by ...Read more
[### Randy Simmons
Property and Environment Research Center
https://www.perc.org › People](https://www.perc.org/people/randy-simmons/)
Randy T. Simmons is a Professor of Political Economy and Director of the Institute of Political Economy in the department of economics and finance at Utah ...Read more
Missing: shughart | Show results with: shughart
[### Randy T Simmons - Professor of Political Economy
LinkedIn · Randy T Simmons
1.7K+ followers](https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-t-simmons-5957a5a)
Randy T Simmons. Professor of Political Economy. Strata Policy University ... Utah State University Graphic. Utah State University. B.A. Political Science.Read more
Missing: shughart | Show results with: shughart
[### Below-Market Housing Mandates as Takings
San Jose State University
https://www.sjsu.edu › IPR-housing-paperNOV1107](https://www.sjsu.edu/people/tom.means/courses/c4/s1/IPR-housing-paperNOV1107.pdf)
by T Means · 2007 · Cited by 9 — Shughart II. UNIVERSItY OF. MISSISSIPPI. Randy T. Simmons. UtAH StAtE UNIVERSItY. Russell S. Sobel. wESt VIRGINIA. UNIVERSItY. Gordon Tullock. GEORGE
[### Finding Better Words: Markets, Property, Rights, and ...
UW Law Digital Commons
https://digitalcommons.law.uw.edu › viewcontent](https://digitalcommons.law.uw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1132&context=wjelp)
by AP Morriss · 2021 · Cited by 1 — Basin PS-27 (Property and Environment Research Center, 2003), https://www.perc ... 227 See Randy T. Simmons, Yandle, Coase, Pigou and Irrigation ...Read more
[### Ways of Teaching Public Choice
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https://economics-finance.org › jefe › issues › JEF...](https://economics-finance.org/jefe/issues/JEFE-Vol-14-Num-2-Fall-2015.pdf)
by JC Hall · Cited by 1 — Simmons, Randy T. 2011. Beyond Politics: The Roots of Government Failure ... During my first year at Utah State University (2011–2012), I designed a ...Read more
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[### Hyperbolic Memory Discounting and the Political Business ...
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by TS Findley · 2015 · Cited by 20 — ... Shughart, Randy Simmons, Di- ana Thomas, Michael Thomas, Christoph Trebesch, and seminar participants at the CESifo. Venice Summer Institute on Behavioural ...Read more
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