Marta Podemska-MikluchFaculty

In my research, I seek to understand how institutions and public policy shape social relations and well-being. Building on the insights of entangled political economy, I study the dynamics of economic calculation in environments insulated from market prices. Entangled political economy is an explanatory approach that integrates political activity within the framework of spontaneous order theory.

In 2020, I established the Entangled Political Economy Research Network (EPERN), bringing together over 100 scholars to study this growing approach. EPERN has become a vibrant community for interdisciplinary research, offering monthly seminars and summer reading groups that foster scholarly exchange and collaboration.

More recently, my interest in the influence of institutions on knowledge generation led to my participation in the Reforming Scientific Advisory Bodies project, led by Roger Koppl of Syracuse University and funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation. This project focuses on evaluating and enhancing the institutional structure of scientific advisory bodies. Entrusted with analyzing Poland's scientific advisory bodies, my role contributes to a comprehensive comparative institutional database. Our first paper, 'Bespoke Scapegoats: Scientific Advisory Bodies and Blame Avoidance in the Covid-19 Pandemic and Beyond,' examines why many governments preferred ad hoc scientific advisory bodies (ahSABs) during the pandemic over existing public health infrastructure. Our findings suggest that ahSABs were used to deflect blame for unpopular policies, emphasizing the need for broader legislative vetting of such bodies.

Mentoring undergraduate research has been integral to my academic journey, enriching both my teaching and research. This included mentoring a project on the impact of minimum wage laws on teenage employment, resulting in a publication and the student's progression to a Ph.D. program. Other significant collaborations have led to presentations at prestigious forums, publications in academic journals, and students securing notable positions in their fields post-graduation. I am eager to continue fostering an environment where students can immerse themselves in meaningful research and develop critical analytical skills.

Originally from Poland, I earned my Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University. My M.S. in Applied Economics and B.A. in Political Science from St. Cloud State University laid the groundwork for my interdisciplinary approach to research and teaching.

Curriculum Vitae

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Selected Journal Publications

“Creative Dynamics and the Entangled Political Economy.” Review of Behavioral Economics 8 (1) 2021: 47–71

“Pandemic Politics within a System of Entangled Political Economy.” Journal of Contextual Economics 140, 2020: 87–110 (with Richard E. Wagner)

“Effects of Local, State, and Federal Minimum Wage on Employment Growth among Teenagers in the Restaurant Industry.” International Advances in Economic Research 26, 2020: 89–101 (with Shaun Gilyard '19)

“Inequality, Entanglement, and Entrepreneurship – the Role of Voluntary and Forced Investors.” Cosmos and Taxis 6 (5) 2019: 26 – 30

“FDA-CMS Parallel Review: a Failed Attempt at Spurring Innovation.” Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, 8 (4) 2019: 433 – 441

“Understanding Medicare’s Impact on Innovation: A Framework for Policy Reform.” Mercatus Research, Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Arlington, VA, 2018

“Economic Coordination across Divergent Institutional Frameworks: Dissolving a Theoretical Antinomy.”Review of Political Economy 29 (2) 2017: 249-266 (with Richard E. Wagner)

“Elections vs. Political Competition: The Case of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.”Review of Austrian Economics 28 (2) 2015: 167–78

“Dyads, Triads, and the Theory of Exchange: Between Liberty and Coercion.” Review of Austrian Economics 26 (2) 2013: 171–82 (with Richard E. Wagner)

“Entangled Political Economy and the Two Faces of Entrepreneurship.” Journal of Public Finance and Public Choice 27 (2-3) 2011: 3–18 (with Richard E. Wagner)

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Book Chapters

“Taxonomy of Entrepreneurship – A Means-Oriented Approach.” In Emergence, Entanglement, and Political Economy, edited by David Hebert and Diana Thomas. New York: Springer, 2021

“Entrepreneurship.” In Encyclopedia of Law and Economics, edited by Alain Marciano and Giovanni Battista Ramello. New York: Springer, 2019

“Contraception Without Romance: The Entangled Political Economy of State and Federal Contraceptive Insurance Mandates.” In James M. Buchanan: A Theorist of Political Economy and Social Philosophy, edited by Richard E. Wagner. Palgrave Macmillan, 2018

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Popular Publications

“How Medicare Is Hindering Healthcare Innovation, and a Way Forward.” Mercatus Center At George Mason University Policy Brief, December 2018 (with Elise Amez-Droz)

“How Medicare Promotes Wasteful Innovation.” Real Clear Policy. August 2018

“Broken Insurance System Discourages a Life-Saving Therapy.” Real Clear Health. July 2017 (with Emily Knutson)

“Affordable Housing Is Already In Reach For Minimum Wage Workers.” FEE.org. June 2016

“Upper-Income Preferences Are Blocking Low-Income Choices On Payday Loans.” FEE.org. June 2016

“On The Use of Knowledge in the U.S. Health Care System.” In: What would Hayek say today (really)? 2013 Charles Street Symposium Essays. Legatum Institute, 2013

Courses Taught