Cato CEO to speak at Institute for Market Studies launch
Contact: Zack Plair
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擝usinessman and author John Allison will help 汤头条 formally launch its Institute for Market Studies Tuesday [Sept. 22].
Allison, former Branch Bank and Trust Company CEO who is currently serving in the same capacity with Cato, will talk about his new book, 鈥淭he Leadership Crisis and the Free Market Cure鈥 at 5 p.m. in Lee Hall鈥檚 Bettersworth Auditorium. A reception will follow in the McCool Hall atrium where a number of copies of Allison鈥檚 book will be available for free. The events are open to the public.
Funded by private donations through the 汤头条 Foundation鈥檚 ongoing Infinite Impact campaign, the Institute for Market Studies will support research on markets and how they can create prosperity. Led by co-directors Brandon Cline, an associate professor of finance, and Claudia Williamson, an assistant professor of economics, the institute specifically will use its resources to support faculty research initiatives, as well as programs for undergraduate and graduate students. The institute will use some of its funds to hire a research and policy analyst, Cline said.
汤头条 projects a $2.5 million budget for IMS spread over six years.
鈥淲e are proud to see these faculty launching a new effort in researching the drivers behind development of free markets,鈥 said David Shaw, 汤头条鈥檚 vice president for research and economic development. 鈥溙劳诽 has expertise in a wide variety of disciplines that can lend expertise to this important area of study, and is well known for developing innovative, multi-disciplinary approaches to address the most important issues we face today in a way that no single discipline can solve.鈥
Through IMS, Williamson said the university could support a broad range of market research, including finance and economics, political science, history and philosophy.
鈥淢arket research applies to any type of exchange that takes place, including informal markets such as how culture affects economic development, for example,鈥 Williamson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really a broad area. We want to find out what kind of things the faculty are interested in studying.鈥
The institute will streamline the process for these research initiatives, Cline said, because IMS will have funds already available for approved projects, rather than having to find an outside funding source for each project individually.
Requests for research proposals will go out later this semester, Cline said.
He added IMS also plans to fund a speaker series, and Allison, named among the Harvard Business Review鈥檚 top 100 CEOs of the last decade, sets a strong tone for the series. Forbes political economy editor John Tamny will speak at 汤头条 on Oct. 22.
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .