At Mercatus, we’re searching for curious, driven, and classical-liberal minds to join our Emerging Scholars Program. Candidates will be applying for more than a job. They will be answering an invitation to be immersed in one of the most intellectually vibrant policy communities in the country. In this role emerging scholars will read deeply, write prolifically, and debate energetically. They’ll explore questions that matter—with people who want real answers.
The Emerging Scholar role is full time, in person, and rooted in classical political economy. It’s designed for sharp, early-career thinkers who want to connect the dots between theory and today’s reality. And if anyone ever wanted a front-row seat to conversations with Tyler Cowen, this will be their moment.
We’re not looking for ideological enforcers or armchair critics. We’re looking for scholars in the making—people with a strong foundation in economics, political theory, or philosophy, and an eagerness to grow. The emerging scholars’ job will be to deepen their understanding of classical liberal thought and help communicate its relevance to today’s most urgent challenges.
This program also reflects a core Mercatus belief: that talent—properly identified, cultivated, and positioned—can change the world. The Emerging Scholar role is part of a broader institutional commitment to finding people who not only grasp classical liberalism but can apply it in creative, rigorous, and impactful ways. Whether that means writing the next great policy brief, starting a new organization, or shaping the public conversation, we want to invest early in the people who can make that happen.
Think of the Emerging Scholars Program as our launchpad for the next generation of great minds.
We are accepting applications until May 5, 2025.Apply here. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to the program director, Rebecca Lowe, at
[email protected]. And if someone comes to mind who might be a great fit, please consider passing this opportunity along. Let’s find the next generation of great thinkers together.
Ben Brophy Director of Marketing
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Topics & Issues
Veronique De Rugy and Jack Salmon urge a rethink of tax expenditures—not just as loopholes or giveaways, but as policy tools that should be judged by clear, principled standards.
John Hartley proposes an alternative, model-free measure of the natural rate of interest based on survey expectations, which may help policymakers avoid misjudging the stance of monetary policy. In other words, tracking economic reality more closely will help produce better policy.
Dean Ball provides a roadmap for crafting effective and responsible state-level AI legislation.
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