MTSU's Political Economy Research Institute will host a series of guest speakers for public lectures throughout the fall.

The year will be kicked off Oct. 2 with a public lecture on "The Continuing Relevance of F.A. Hayek" from Dr. Peter J. Boettke of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Virginia.

Boettke will discuss his new book, "F. A. Hayek: Economics, Political Economy and Social Philosophy," at 12:40 p.m. Oct. 2 in the Business and Aerospace Building (BAS) Room S102. Boettke has authored 14 books, including "Living Economics" and "The Battle of Ideas."

PERI will then host Dr. Jay Cost of the American Enterprise Institute for an Oct. 3 public lecture on the U.S. Constitution. Cost, a columnist at National Review Online, is the author of three books, including "A Republic No More: Big Government and the Rise of American Political Corruption." He will speak at 7 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Business and Aerospace Building (BAS) Room S102.

On Oct. 31, MTSU alumnus Dr. Howard Henderson, director of the Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University, will give a public lecture at 2:20 p.m. in the Ned McWherter Learning Resources Center (LRC) Room 221. Henderson will deliver a lecture on his research on criminal justice reform. His lecture is supported by the MTSU Distinguished Lecture Fund.

The final event of the fall will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Ned McWherter Learning Resources Center (LRC) Room 221. Dr. Benjamin Powell of the Free Market Institute at Texas Tech University will deliver a public lecture on "The Myths and Realities of Socialism" based on his new book, "Socialism Sucks."

Powell's research findings have been reported in more than 100 media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. He also writes frequently for mainstream outlets, including a regular op-ed column for The Huffington Post. He has appeared on numerous radio and television outlets, including CNN, MSNBC, Showtime, CNBC, and he was a regular guest commentator on FOX Business Network's Freedom Watch.

A searchable campus map is available here. Off-campus visitors can obtain a special one-day permit at http://www.mtsu.edu/parking/visit.php or from MTSU's Office of Parking and Transportation at 1403 E. Main St.

To learn more about the PERI or these upcoming events please visit its homepage.

About the Political Economy Research Institute

Established in late 2016, the Political Economy Research Institute is a joint venture between the Jennings A. Jones College of Business and the University Honors College, established with initial seed money from the Charles Koch Foundation. 

The mission of the institute is to engage undergraduate and graduate students with faculty in research that will further the understanding of business and economic principles, as well as their impact on regional, national, and international financial conditions and the well-being of society. To advance its mission, the PERI will engage in research and educational programs which uncover the institutions and policies that encourage and enhance human well-being.