Economics, Development & Public Finance

The Schar School’s research and teaching focuses on problems afflicting countries across the world, the institutional settings within which these problems arise, and the solutions offered by governments, nongovernmental organizations, multinational organizations, and the private sector. In addition to focusing on economic development and governance structures within countries, we explore political and economic relations between countries as well as the ways entrepreneurship interacts with globalization. Economics and public finance research examines the impact of public sector activities on the economic behavior of individuals, firms, nonprofit organizations, and markets. The processes and mechanisms of finance can influence economic efficiency, and this research is interested in such relationships. Public finance asks how governments raise revenue through taxes and borrowing, and how they make decisions about disbursing those funds. The ways that governments and public institutions plan, control, and account for such activities have impacts across sectors, as do the design and administration of all of these functions.

Interested in interviewing one of our experts? Contact Communications Manager Buzz McClain at bmcclai2@gmu.edu or 703-993-9603.

  • Photo of Zoltan Acs

    Professor Emeritus

    Areas of Research: Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Global & Domestic Business Environment, Managerial Economics & Public Policy, New Venture Creation, Technology Management, The Global Economy
  • Photo of Philip Auerswald

    Professor

    Areas of Research: Economic Development, Economic Policy, Energy Policy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Industrial Organization, International Development, Microeconomics, Regional Development, Science and Technology Policy
  • Photo of Kenneth J. Button

    University Professor Emeritus of Policy and Government

    Areas of Research: Economics of Privatization and Regulation, Environmental Economics, Regional Economics, Transport Planning, Transportation Economics, Urban Economics
  • Photo of Terry Clower

    Northern Virginia Chair in Local Government; Professor of Public Policy; Director, Center for Regional Analysis

    Areas of Research: Economic Development, Economic Policy, Quantitative Methods, Regional Development, Transportation Policy, Regional Economic Performance, Economic Forecasting, Economic and Fiscal Impacts
  • Photo of John S. Earle

    Distinguished University Professor
    Director, Center for Micro-Economic Policy Research (CMEPR)

    Areas of Research: Economic Policy; Employment Policy; Firm and Industry Dynamics; Labor Economics; Comparative, Institutional, and Transition Economics; Economic Development; Entrepreneurship; Microeconomics; Organizations; Political Economy; Quantitative Methods; Small Business Programs, Growth, and Innovation
  • Photo of Jonathan L. Gifford

    Professor; Director, Center for Transportation Public-Private Partnership Policy

    Research Interests: Civil Engineering, Development and Delivery, Federalism/State and Local Government, Fiscal Policy and Budgeting, Infrastructure Finance, Public-Private Partnerships, Regional Development, Transportation Policy, Urban Policy
  • Photo of Bassam S. Haddad

    Associate Professor

    Bassam Haddad is an associate professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.
  • Photo of David M. Hart

    Professor

    Areas of Research: Energy Policy, Innovation Policy, Manufacturing Policy, Science and Technology Policy, U.S. Politics
  • Photo of Maurice Kugler
    Areas of Research: Economic Growth, International Economic Development, Human Capital, Foreign Direct Investment, International Trade and Global Labor Markets.
  • Photo of Siona Robin Listokin-Smith

    Associate Professor

    Areas of Research: Federalism/State and Local Government, Microeconomics, Political Economy, Quantitative Methods, Regulatory Policy, Private Regulation, Corporate Governance, Public Finance