Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy

07/03/2025

New York City voters just selected a socialist in the Democratic primary for mayor. A large share of Zohran Mamdani’s support came from young college graduates. How can we keep college grads from bringing socialism to Alabama?

The Johnson Center’s free enterprise programs do just this by educating Troy University students about the virtues of commerce and markets as voluntary social cooperation. We have run the Free Enterprise Scholars program since 2022, and this fall will inaugurate a new annual Capitalism and Socialism reading group.

We have grant funding to support these programs but seek support to increase the scholarships we can offer to Troy students. Will you help us teach some of tomorrow’s business leaders about free enterprise today? If you are interested, please reach out to us at [email protected].

05/16/2025

Allen Mendenhall and Dan Sutter have a piece in National Review discussing their new study Beyond the Bottom Line for the State Financial Officers Foundation. How have state pension systems been advancing ESG? The answer matters alot for its impacts on all of us.

But less visibly.

05/01/2025

We were pleased to welcome Brad Thompson to Troy this week to speak to the University on the political ideas of the American Founding Fathers and to meet with our Free Enterprise Scholars.

04/29/2025

The Johnson Center is pleased to host Dr. Brad Thompson of Clemson University for a talk drawn from his book "America's Revolutionary Mind." What were the Founders thinking when they rose in revolt against the mightiest empire in the world? Spoiler alert: it was not to preserve slavery.

The talk will be at 4pm in 129 Lewis Hall on April 30. It is free and open to the public and you do not have to reserve a spot.

04/25/2025

The Johnson Center was pleased to welcome the Austrian Economics Center's Free Market Roadshow to present to our Free Enterprise Scholars. Our students learned about Hayek's arguments about the limits of expertise.

04/08/2025

Mackenzie Ensley and Haley Hoggle have been working on a research project as part of our new second year Free Enterprise Scholars program. Mackenzie is presenting their research at the Association of Private Enterprise Education meetings this week in Guatemala City. The project examines the backgrounds of the Proud to Pay More Millionaires, the rich folks who want governments to tax them more. Here's Mackenzie at the poster presentation and with MJC Director Allen Mendenhall.

03/27/2025

Allen Mendenhall was master of ceremonies for the Heritage Foundation'e America'se 250th Leaders Dinner at the American Village tonight. Dr. Wilfred McClay of Hillsdale College and Attorney General Steve Marshall were the speakers.

02/27/2025

The Johnson Center hosted Art Carden this week who spoke to our Free Enterprise Scholars on the Bourgeois Deal and his book with Deirdre McCloskey "Leave MeAlone and I'll Make You Rich."

02/14/2025

Could Alabama reform higher education following the model set by Florida's Governor DeSantis? Allen Mendenhall discusses in a column for 1819 News.

Alabama needs not an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime crusader but a diligent, dutiful and hardworking governor who grasps that universities require both…

12/29/2024

Allen Mendenhall offers New Year's resolutions for Alabama public policy in his latest column for 1819 News.

With the seasonal flight of jolly beneficence behind us, we turn from children’s wish lists for Santa to the more sober exercise of New Year’s…

12/07/2024

Allen Mendenhall hosted the December luncheon of the Montgomery Federalist Society this week which feature a tribute to the retiring Chief Justice Parker of the Alabama Supreme Court.

11/23/2024

Many Americans have been debanked. Must we accept banks choosing to not do business with disfavored persons and firms? Or is the government driving this? Allen Mendenhall discusses in his most recent piece for 1819 News.

When banks choose politics over prudence, everyone loses. | Alabama News