I'm an economist by education, subscribing to a Libertarian/free-market viewpoint. Currently, I'm the Dean of Educational Technology  at Butler County Community College in Pennsylvania. I also teach economics courses via the Internet for the college.

I am often asked what motivated me to write a newspaper column. After all, academics usually conduct research, not opine in the daily paper. I saw it as an opportunity to reach a wider audience--one that otherwise might not ever encounter an economist's perspective on current issues.

Writing a column isn't easy. Trying to condense an economic issue into 600 words or less was a challenge. Economist George Stigler once quipped that it takes a typical professor five pages just to clear his throat. There is no such luxury in journalism.

For now, I'm taking a respite from writing about economic issues. If you'd like to know more about me personally, check out my personal site.