Andrew Yuengert
Andrew M. Yuengert is a 2015-16 William E. Simon Visiting Fellow at the James Madison Program at Princeton University, and a Professor of Economics at Pepperdine University.
Articles by Andrew Yuengert
Abernathy, TX before the Self-driving Car
A month ago I flew out to Lubbock, Texas, to give a couple of talks at Lubbock Christian University. Several times over the course of two days the topic of…
Bad Popes and Public Memorials
One of the first things I noticed in Rome was the bodies. While praying in Santa Maria Sopra Minerva on my first visit, I happened to glance to my left,…
Seeing Like A Traffic App
A year ago I started exploring my traffic navigation app, wondering what advice it would give about the various routes I took to work in southern California. I found the…
The Family Tree, Stripped
A mainland Chinese student visited my office last week, asking for a letter of recommendation for his transfer to another university. It is hard to lose a student like this—enthusiastic…
Happy Holidays to Us
Malibu, CA I understand why many wish me a “Happy Holidays” in public settings, and I am glad they wish me well at this time of year. I must confess,…
The Market Made Me Do It (Part II)
Malibu, CA Where does Catholic Social Thought come down on this question? Not surprisingly, Catholic thought often emphasizes solutions taken at the level of the economic and political system: government-provided…
The Market Made Me Do It (Part I)
Malibu, CA The danger in speaking after thirteen talks on Catholic Thought and Business is that there is nothing left to say. Russ Hittinger started with the observation that his…
Please Block the Way: Campaigning Against Courtesy
Japanese rail commuters ride train station escalators the way you might expect: those who are in no hurry stand to the right, leaving a ‘passing lane’ for those who walk…
Riverboat Pilots and Economists
In “Life on the Mississippi,” Mark Twain recounts his earnest desire to become a Mississippi steamboat pilot, and his struggles to master the pilot’s craft—a craft that demanded technical knowledge…
Sometimes a Garden is Just a Garden
To the left of our Southern California driveway is a little plot of land, 400-500 square feet. Some homeowners just pave over a space like this, to add another parking…
Community among Academics: An Economist’s Retrospective
Two weeks ago I spoke to an orientation program for new faculty at Pepperdine. I shared with them what I had been told at my new faculty orientation nineteen years…
What Health Insurance Does to Prices
Last summer, my youngest son was on a church trip on the other side of the country, when he hurt his hand. A deep gash on his middle finger required…