Last updated on: 8/15/2008 | Author: ProCon.org

Robert B. Ekelund, PhD Biography

Title:
Professor of Economics and Lowder Eminent Scholar Emeritus at Auburn University
Position:
Not Clearly Pro or Con to the question "Should the Death Penalty Be Allowed?"
Reasoning:

“Does capital punishment deter multiple murders? This paper opens that debate by examining the principle of marginal deterrence and its effects when the opportunity cost of an additional murder is approximately zero. However strongly execution variables deter first and only murders, the marginal cost of additional murders is, in effect, zero. Empirically, we find that execution and the death penalty have no significant effect on multiple murders.”

“Marginal Deterrence and Multiple Murders,” Southern Economic Journal, Jan. 2006
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:
    Experts
Individuals with MDs, JDs, PhDs, or equivalent advanced degrees in fields relevant to death penalty issues. Also top-level government officials (such as foreign leaders, US presidents, Founding Fathers, Supreme Court Justices, members of legislative bodies, cabinet members, military leaders, etc.) with positions relevant to death penalty issues.
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Lowder Eminent Scholar Emeritus, Economics, Auburn University
  • Professor of Economics, Auburn University, 1979-present
  • Policy Advisor, Heartland Institute
  • Research Fellow, Independent Institute
  • Adjunct Faculty, Economics, Mises Institute
  • Vernon Taylor Distinguished Visiting Professor, Economics, Trinity University, 2003
  • Visiting Scholar, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
  • Faculty, Economics, Texas A&M University, 1967-1979
Education:
  • PhD, Economics, Louisiana State University, 1967
  • MA, Economics, St. Mary’s University, 1963
  • BBA (Bachelor in Business Administration), Economics, St. Mary’s University, 1962
Other:
  • Artist-Musician-Pianist