Fall Speaker Series
October 12: David Bernstein
This past June, the Supreme Court held that the University of North Carolina’s and Harvard University’s preferential treatment of minority (from underrepresented groups) was illegal. This decision sent shockwaves through the academy, government, and private industry, especially because the Court went beyond expected opposition to racial preferences to call into question the entire scheme of racial and ethnic classification that has been widely used throughout American society since the government established these classifications over forty years ago. Professor Bernstein will discuss the Court’s holding and its implications for matters ranging from college admissions to scientific research, drawing from his most recent book, Classified, The Untold Story of Racial Classification in America.
Bernstein holds
a University Professorship chair at the Antonin Scalia Law School, where he has been teaching since 1995.
October 26: Emily Hamilton
As an increasing number of households suffer from housing costs that strain their budgets, it’s abundantly clear that barriers to housing construction are causing affordability challenges. In this talk, Mercatus Center Senior Research Fellow Dr. Emily Hamilton discusses trends in state and local reforms to the regulations standing in the way of housing construction with a focus on policy changes that have been proven to make it feasible to build more housing at more affordable prices. Hamilton is a Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Urbanity Project at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Her research focuses on urban economics and land-use policy. She publishes both academic research and policy work.
November 28 — Michael C. Munger
Professor Munger will explore the problem of using antitrust law and enforcement to control power and foster innovation in his presentation “Monopoly Power, Political Power, and the Problem of Platforms.” Professor Munger will address how, oftentimes, only a large firm with a reputation can solve the problems of “platforms.” In Munger’s recent books, a “platform” is defined as an entity that reduces the transaction costs of triangulation, transfer, and trust.
Professor Munger received his Ph.D. in Economics at Washington University in St. Louis in 1984. He is currently director of the interdisciplinary PPE Program at Duke University.
More about our speakers…
ACRE Reading Groups
Led by UCA professors, these engaging groups meet weekly and offer scholarships upon completion. Read more here, and contact Terra Aquia at tvotaw@uca.edu with questions or to apply.
ACRE Highlights
Inaugural Sunshine Awards
Sunshine Award Winners from left: Mayor Doug Sprouse (Springdale), Tad Sours (Washington County), Lisa Thurber (Fayetteville), Melody Kwok (Benton County), Lisa Lawrence (Craighead County), and Bobby Kelly (Conway).
ACRE Director Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl presented ACRE’s first Sunshine Awards to the top ranking Arkansas counties and cities in ACRE’s recently released report on local government web transparency, Access Arkansas. “Sunshine” references the U.S. Government in the Sunshine Act. This act, as well as Sunshine legislation in many states, aims to establish transparency in government and reduce corruption. The awards breakfast was held May 30 in the College of Business. Award-winning local governments included the cities of Conway, Fayetteville, and Springdale, as well as Benton, Craighead, and Washington counties. Leaders from each recognized locality shared the influence Access Arkansas has had in motiving their localities’ improvement in web transparency, and applauded ACRE’s leadership in inspiring local governments to improve and excel. Access Arkansas is published every two years. The next edition of the report and the next round of Sunshine Awards will occur in 2025.
ACRE’s Top 10 Revisited
ACRE Policy Analyst Dr. Joyce Ajayi testifies at the 2023 Arkansas General Assembly
The Arkansas General Assembly has informally adjourned, meaning that the time to pass new bills is over. They will reconvene in May to formally wrap up the session, but the major action is now concluded.
Prior to the session, ACRE put together a Top 10 List of policy ideas based on our research. And throughout the session, ACRE researchers were watching relevant bills and testifying at the Capitol in Little Rock whenever our research could help inform the debate. So how did our Top 10 List turn out? Read more…
ACRE Publications
ACRE Publications Examine COVID Relief Fund Transparency and Provide a Guide for Local Governments
Coronavirus Relief Fund Reporting: How States are Promoting Transparency
by Dr. Mavuto Kalulu
Dr. Kalulu’s policy brief examines how various states are ensuring the transparency of COVID-19 Relief Fund expenditures and draws lessons for Arkansas from the more transparent states. Arkansas received $1.25 billion and it is good governance for the state to report residents on how these funds are allocated and expended. The more transparent states provide more detailed information and provide downloadable data on searchable platforms.
COVID Relief Done Right: A Local Government Transparency Guide for Following the One-Time Influx of Funds by
Joyce O. Ajayi and Ashley Philips
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, local governments have received an influx of funds from the United States Treasury
Department to help pay for unexpected eligible expenses and replace lost revenue. Our latest publication, COVID Relief Done Right, authored by ACRE analyst Joyce O. Ajayi and UCA Associate Professor of Accounting Ashley Philips, provides background on the one-time influx of COVID-19 relief funds in Arkansas and a toolkit for local transparency and accountability in the use of these funds, including a web transparency checklist.
ACRE Director Recognized for Societal Impact
UCA College of Business recently announced the winners of its faculty excellence awards. ACRE Director and UCA Associate Professor of Economics Jeremy Horpedahl was awarded the Societal Impact award, for his impact in the past year in the classroom, through his academic research, and through his engagement with the public (such as media appearances, legislative testimony, and social media writings). Read more…
The Arkansas Center for Research in Economics (ACRE) is an Arkansas focused research center housed in the College of Business at the University of Central Arkansas. ACRE scholars and policy analysts use academic research and original analysis to educate the public on important issues of public policy in Arkansas. Our research focuses on barriers to employment, taxes and spending, targeted incentives, and government transparency. ACRE promotes solutions that respect the personal and economic freedoms of individuals because protecting and expanding these freedoms has a proven record of improving the lives of people around the world and here at home.
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