Mission and Vision of ISPE
The Institute for the Study of Political Economy (ISPE) at Ball State University focuses on the analysis of governance within the study of political economy, using the political economy traditions associated with F. A. Hayek, James Buchanan, and Elinor Ostrom.
Our research examines the characteristics of good public and private governance, identifying the institutions and rules that promote it. Further, we assess the impact of governance, both good and bad, on various outcomes. Our primary interests include wealth and income distribution, economic growth, health, freedom and liberty, and the quality of life in the American Midwest.
To positively influence these outcomes, we share our findings from rigorous academic research with students, the general public, leaders of private organizations, and elected and appointed officials.
ISPE also fosters a vibrant intellectual community for students by organizing speaker events, reading groups, discussion colloquia, and supporting student-led initiatives such as the Economics Club. These programs provide students with unique opportunities to engage with ideas, debate pressing issues, and develop as future scholars and leaders.
These include:
- Undergraduate Programs: ISPE sponsors the Economics Club and reading groups for students interested in exploring ideas of free market economics and political economy.
- Undergraduate Research Fellowships: ISPE aims to provide students with training in both mainstream economics and political economy so that they are able to do rigorous, creative, and original research in applied economics.
Students selected as Buchanan Scholars (typically sophomores and juniors) are offered co-curricular opportunities to learn more about economics and related disciplines and to develop marketable skills. Buchanan Scholars also are paid to work on a year-long research project under the direction of Dr. Todd Nesbit.
Menard Research Fellowships allow upper level undergraduate students to receive individual mentorship with faculty members as they work on rigorous, creative, and original research projects. Students have access to travel funds in order to present the resulting research at appropriate academic conferences.
- Outreach: Institute faculty members write articles for popular audiences, give television, radio and podcast interviews on current public policy issues, and deliver public lectures at events across the country and the world.
- Menard Speaker Series / Madam C.J. Walker Colloquium: The Institute hosts scholars from around the world, who deliver public lectures and research presentations. One of the goals of our speaker series and Colloquium is to broaden the intellectual conversation on the Ball State campus, providing opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to hear new and different ideas that might challenge them in important ways.
- Affiliated Faculty: ISPE supports BSU faculty research by providing a collaborative environment, intellectual activities, and material resources necessary to create, publish, and disseminate high-quality work on the political economy to scholars and the general public.
- Teaching: Institute faculty offer courses for undergraduate students through existing academic departments.
- Research: Institute faculty pursue independent scholarly research and participate in Institute-sponsored research programs.
Ball State faculty can affiliate with ISPE by becoming involved in our programs and mentoring student research.