"The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design. To the naive mind that can conceive of order only as the product of deliberate arrangement, it may seem absurd that in complex conditions order, and adaptation to the unknown, can be achieved more effectively by decentralizing decisions and that a division of authority will actually extend the possibility of overall order. Yet that decentralization actually leads to more information being taken into account." (Hayek 1988, 76).
The above quote encapsulates the guiding philosophy behind my research. I focus on ground-up solutions to complex economic problems, as the use of dispersed knowledge often leads to more robust solutions to society's ailments. To that end, I focus on economic freedom and different aspects of economic freedom in my research, as such liberty provides the institutional framework for dispersed knowledge, and thus society, to flourish.
Published Works
Reinarts, N., & Melo, V. (2023). ADA to Ph. D.? The Americans with disabilities act and post-secondary educational attainment. Public Choice, 1-12. (Special issue honoring Dr. Harold A. Black)
Forthcoming Publications
“You Have Nothing to Lose but Your Chains? Re-Examining the Hayek-Friedman Hypothesis on the Relationship Between Capitalism and Political Freedom.” Co-authored with Gabriel F. Benzecry and Daniel J. Smith. Accepted for publication in a special edition of Public Choice on Humanomics.
Working Papers
Analyzing The Lange-Lerner Hypothesis Is a Monopolized Banking Sector a Threat to Democracy? Co-authored with Dr. Daniel J. Smith and Dr. Gabriel F. Benzecry
“Comrades Bowling Alone: The Impact of State Ownership of the Economy on Civil Society.” Co-authored with Gabriel F. Benzecry and Daniel J. Smith
Economic Liberty to Disabled Prosperity: The ADA, State-Level Economic Freedom, and Post-Secondary Educational Attainment for the Disabled
Works in Progress
“A Stone Wall Against Progress: Socialism and the Distribution of Political Power by LGBT Status.” Co-authored with Gabriel F. Benzecry and Daniel J. Smith
Governing the Environmental Commons: Economic Freedom as a Polycentric Institution for Fighting Climate Change. Co-authored with Dr. Siobhain Lash
“Ramps to Academia: State-Level Economic Freedom and Other Determinants of Post-Secondary Education for the Disabled”
“The Road to Censorship: Socialism’s Chilling Effect on Academic Freedom.” Co-authored with Gabriel F. Benzecry and Daniel J. Smith
GRANT APPLICATIONS
Benzecry, Gabriel, Nicholas Reinarts, and Daniel J. Smith (PI) (2023). “The Relationship Between State Ownership of Economy and Academic Freedom”. FIRE Free Inquiry Grant Program. $65,000. Submitted.
Benzecry, Gabriel, Nicholas Reinarts, and Daniel J. Smith (PI) (2023). “Comrades Bowling Alone: The Impact of State Ownership of the Economy on Civil Society”. Acton Institute Mini-Grants on Free Markets. $10,000. Application in Progress.
Conference Papers
“Democracy, Instability, and Wellbeing in South America: A Panel Data Analysis,” Public Choice Society Conference. Louisville, KY, Friday, March 15th, 2019.
"No Land, No Resources, No Problem: Property Rights Institutions and Growth in Venice," Southern Economic Association Conference. Houston, TX, Sunday, November 21st, 2021
“Can We Persist, Nevertheless? An Examination of Whether Social Trust Can Mitigate the Deleterious Effect of Political Instability on Economic Prosperity,” Public Choice Society Conference. Nashville, TN, Saturday, March 12th, 2021.
“ADA To Ph.D.: The Effect of the Americans with Disabilities Act on Undergraduate and Graduate-Level Educational Attainment,” Dr. Harold A. Black Academic Conference. Chattanooga, TN, Saturday, September 10th, 2022.
“Economic Liberty to Disabled Prosperity: The ADA, State-Level Economic Freedom, and Post-Secondary Educational Attainment for the Disabled,” Southern Economic Association Conference. Fort Lauderdale, FL, Sunday, November 20th, 2022
“Analyzing the Lange-Lerner Hypothesis: Is a Monopolized Banking Sector a Threat to Democracy?” Co-authored with Gabriel F. Benzecry and Daniel J. Smith. Southern Economic Association Conference. New Orleans, LA, Monday, November 20th, 2023
“Governing the Environmental Commons: Economic Freedom’s Polycentric Elements and Climate Change Mitigation,” Co-authored with Siobhain Lash. Southern Economic Association Conference. New Orleans, LA, Monday, November 20th, 2023
Popular Work
Commentary: Minimum Wage for Disabled Tennesseans is a Well-Intended, But Misguided Solution | Tennessee Lookout. April 8th, 2022