Session Chairs:

Maria Kozhevnikova, Queens College of CUNY

Papers:

"Explicit and Implicit Contracts and the Quality of Exports in the CIS and Eastern Europe"
Maria Kozhevnikova, Queens College of CUNY (Contact Author)

"Texas Treasury Notes and the Compromise of 1850"
Gary M. Pecquet, Shenandoah University
Clifford F. Thies, Shenandoah University (Contact Author)

"Economic Freedom and Growth Production"
Russell S. Sobel, James Clark Coffman Distinguished Chair, West Virginia University
Nathan J. Ashby, The College of Wooster (Contact Author)

"Do Rent-Seeking Groups Announce Their Sharing Rules?"
Kyung Hwan Baik, Sungkyunkwan University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Dongryul Lee, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Contact Author)

Discussants:

Susan K. Feigenbaum, University of Missouri - St. Louis
Douglas J. Wakeman, Meredith College

Organizers:

Todd M. Nesbit, Pennsylvania State University - Erie

Session Chairs:

Todd M. Nesbit, Pennsylvania State University - Erie

Papers:

"Contagious Capitalism"
Peter T. Leeson, West Virginia University
Russell S. Sobel, James Clark Coffman Distinguished Chair, West Virginia University

"Does the Form of City Government Influence Entrepreneurship?"
Steven F. Kreft, Indiana University (Contact Author)
Elham Mafi-Kreft, Indiana University

"Institutions, Entrepreneurship and the Return on Human Capital"
Joshua C. Hall, West Virginia University (Contact Author)

"An Econometric Investigation of the Relationship Between Small Business Activity and Economic Growth Among the States"
Donald Bruce, University of Tennessee
John Deskins, Creighton University (Contact Author)
Bruce Hill, University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Jonathan C. Rork, Vassar College

Discussants:

Christopher J. Coyne, Hampden-Sydney College
Jason R. Henderson, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
E. Frank Stephenson, Berry College
Robert A. Lawson, Professor of Economics & George H. Moor Chair, Capital University

Organizers:

Pavel A. Yakovlev, West Virginia University

Session Chairs:

Pavel A. Yakovlev, West Virginia University

Papers:

"The Economics of Torture"
Pavel A. Yakovlev, West Virginia University (Contact Author)

"Effects of Human Development Aid"
Claudia R. Williamson, West Virginia University (Contact Author)

"Eminent Domain: Why Are Some States More Likely to Use It?"
Carrie B. Kerekes, West Virginia University
Russell S. Sobel, James Clark Coffman Distinguished Chair, West Virginia University

"Economics or Politics? Explaining State Adherence to TANF Time Limits"
Miki Brunyer, West Virginia University (Contact Author)

Discussants:

Justin M. Ross, West Virginia University
Tomi Ovaska, University of Regina
Robert R. Dunn, West Virginia University
Leslie J. Dunn, West Virginia University

Organizers:

Todd M. Nesbit, Pennsylvania State University - Erie

Session Chairs:

Todd M. Nesbit, Pennsylvania State University - Erie

Papers:

"Voting Rules for Civil Jury Trials"
Kerry A. King, Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania State University - Erie
Todd M. Nesbit, Pennsylvania State University - Erie

"The Political Economy of Natural Hazard Mitigation"
Daniel Sutter, University of Oklahoma (Contact Author)

"Effects of Race and Judicial Selection on Criminal Sentencing"
Aleksandar (Sasha) Tomic, Macon State College (Contact Author)

"Terrorism and Ethnicity: An Economic Analysis"
Atin Basuchoudhary, Virginia Military Institute
William F. Shughart, II, F.A.P. Barnard Distinguished Professor, University of Mississippi

Discussants:

Angela K. Dills, Clemson University
William F. Shughart, II, F.A.P. Barnard Distinguished Professor, University of Mississippi
Russell S. Sobel, James Clark Coffman Distinguished Chair, West Virginia University
Scott A Beaulier, Mercer University

Organizers:

David T. Mitchell, St. Mary's College of California

Session Chairs:

David T. Mitchell, St. Mary's College of California

Papers:

"Do Initiatives Affect Local Government Growth?"
Greg Randolph, West Virginia University (Contact Author)

"Did Caplan Catch a Leviathan: Analysis of State Government Growth and Party Majorities"
Noel D. Campbell, University of Central Arkansas
R. Zachary Finney, University of South Alabama
David T. Mitchell, St. Mary's College of California (Contact Author)

"Content Analysis of Presidential Campaign Email Communications"
Noel D. Campbell, University of Central Arkansas (Contact Author)
R. Zachary Finney, University of South Alabama
Richard Parker, University of Arkansas - Little Rock

"State Fiscal Crises: Are Rapid Spending Increases to Blame?"
Dean Stansel, Florida Gulf Coast University (Contact Author)
David T. Mitchell, St. Mary's College of California

Discussants:

David T. Mitchell, St. Mary's College of California
Dean Stansel, Florida Gulf Coast University
Noel D. Campbell, University of Central Arkansas
Russell S. Sobel, James Clark Coffman Distinguished Chair, West Virginia University

Organizers:

Randall G. Holcombe, Florida State University

Session Chairs:

Peter J. Boettke, George Mason University

Papers:

"After the Storm: The Role of Social Capital in Post-Katrina Recovery Processes"
Emily Chamlee-Wright, Beloit College (Contact Author)

"The Resilient City and Katrina"
Sanford Ikeda, State University of New York - Purchase (Contact Author)

"The Political Economy of Katrina"
Peter T. Leeson, West Virginia University
Russell S. Sobel, James Clark Coffman Distinguished Chair, West Virginia University

Discussants:

Peter J. Boettke, George Mason University
Gregory M. Dempster, Elliott Associate Professor and Chair, Hampden-Sydney College