Anthony Gill
Contributor/ Visiting Scholar – May 2021
Anthony Gill is a professor of political economy at the University of Washington and a Distinguished Senior Fellow with Baylor University’s Institute for the Study of Religion.
Earning his PhD in political science at UCLA in 1994, Prof. Gill specializes in the economic study of religion and civil society.
He received the UW’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 1999 and is also a member of the Mont Pelerin Society.
-
•
Is It Time to Rethink Labor Day?
“When we celebrate market freedom, we end up celebrating all those who participate in the process. From the most humble of bartenders to the wealthiest of bankers, we all matter in what we do for one another.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
Economics Explains the Taliban’s Rapid Advances
“The future remains uncertain for Afghanis, but the Taliban may be delivering social scientists important lessons in how rebel groups win power, how effective governance may displace corrupt regimes, and why religion still remains important in the 21st century.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
Are Big Companies Ripping Us Off?
“Politicians who benefit by pretending to ameliorate even the most minor complaints take action, regulate voluntary transactions, and affect how gains from trade can be distributed or even occur.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
What About “Whataboutism?”
“When the cry of ‘Well… what about X?’ arises in argumentation, it is a good time to step back and evaluate the claim through the eyes of others. It may be that the claim holds no merit. Alternatively, it may open our eyes to bigger problems that we’ve failed to notice.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
The High Price of Popcorn
“The next time you reach for a handful of buttery popped corn, give a stomping cheer for the entrepreneurial creativity of the theater owner who made it possible for a wide variety of people to enjoy a summer blockbuster.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
Democracy Is More Than Just Elections
“We need to rethink how we portray democracy to our students and the general public. Democracy should not be construed as resting entirely upon elections. Free markets and civil society are crucial components of democratic governance, not something that stands separate from it.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
Taking a (Lemonade) Stand for Free Enterprise
“The summertime lemonade stand serves more than just refreshing beverages. It stands as a quintessential reminder of how people of all ages love to barter and exchange, as Adam Smith once reminded us. It is in our nature. If we only had the imagination to perceive a world free from commercial barriers, much like our…
-
•
What’s the Matter with Cambridge?
“It is not just well-paid academics that exhibit this (presumably) counter-intuitive voting behavior. The top 300 wealthiest zip codes, those with the so-called ‘one-percenters,’ tend to favor Democrats over Republicans both in terms of financial contributions to campaigns, but also in ballots cast.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
Shadow of the State or Sunshine of Civil Society
“We are often too quick to pull the trigger on government regulation whenever we suspect a problem exists. It is important to first ask what civil society can do (or is doing) to mitigate that problem before deferring to the coercive shadowy state.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
The Use of Knowledge in a Pandemic
“As Hayek reminded us, ‘We need decentralization because only thus can we ensure that the knowledge of the particular circumstances of time and place will be promptly used’ (p. 524). We’ve been here before. You are more of an expert than you might think.” ~ Jonathan Newman & Anthony Gill
-
•
Is It Time to Rethink Labor Day?
“When we celebrate market freedom, we end up celebrating all those who participate in the process. From the most humble of bartenders to the wealthiest of bankers, we all matter in what we do for one another.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
Economics Explains the Taliban’s Rapid Advances
“The future remains uncertain for Afghanis, but the Taliban may be delivering social scientists important lessons in how rebel groups win power, how effective governance may displace corrupt regimes, and why religion still remains important in the 21st century.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
Are Big Companies Ripping Us Off?
“Politicians who benefit by pretending to ameliorate even the most minor complaints take action, regulate voluntary transactions, and affect how gains from trade can be distributed or even occur.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
What About “Whataboutism?”
“When the cry of ‘Well… what about X?’ arises in argumentation, it is a good time to step back and evaluate the claim through the eyes of others. It may be that the claim holds no merit. Alternatively, it may open our eyes to bigger problems that we’ve failed to notice.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
The High Price of Popcorn
“The next time you reach for a handful of buttery popped corn, give a stomping cheer for the entrepreneurial creativity of the theater owner who made it possible for a wide variety of people to enjoy a summer blockbuster.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
Democracy Is More Than Just Elections
“We need to rethink how we portray democracy to our students and the general public. Democracy should not be construed as resting entirely upon elections. Free markets and civil society are crucial components of democratic governance, not something that stands separate from it.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
Taking a (Lemonade) Stand for Free Enterprise
“The summertime lemonade stand serves more than just refreshing beverages. It stands as a quintessential reminder of how people of all ages love to barter and exchange, as Adam Smith once reminded us. It is in our nature. If we only had the imagination to perceive a world free from commercial barriers, much like our…
-
•
What’s the Matter with Cambridge?
“It is not just well-paid academics that exhibit this (presumably) counter-intuitive voting behavior. The top 300 wealthiest zip codes, those with the so-called ‘one-percenters,’ tend to favor Democrats over Republicans both in terms of financial contributions to campaigns, but also in ballots cast.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
Shadow of the State or Sunshine of Civil Society
“We are often too quick to pull the trigger on government regulation whenever we suspect a problem exists. It is important to first ask what civil society can do (or is doing) to mitigate that problem before deferring to the coercive shadowy state.” ~ Anthony Gill
-
•
The Use of Knowledge in a Pandemic
“As Hayek reminded us, ‘We need decentralization because only thus can we ensure that the knowledge of the particular circumstances of time and place will be promptly used’ (p. 524). We’ve been here before. You are more of an expert than you might think.” ~ Jonathan Newman & Anthony Gill