About

We are economists and thinkers from a range of disciplines who challenge conventional wisdom and advance ideas to better serve society.

Research

We develop research that challenges economic orthodoxy and serves society.

Articles

Commentary, analysis, interviews, and research summaries by INET-affiliated writers.

Video

Interviews, presentations and video series with provocative economic thinkers, public figures and students.

Podcast

Economics and Beyond with Rob Johnson, a podcast featuring interviews with some of the world’s most important thinkers, artists, and activists about the pressing issues of our time. The podcast is also available on all major podcasting platforms, such as Apple, Spotify, Google, and Podbean.

Education

Video series and courses for students and educators interested in exploring new economic thinking.

Events

To foster new economic thinking, we host convenings that gather together a diverse community of thinkers from different fields, countries, and schools of thought.

YSI

Through the Young Scholars Initiative (YSI), INET provides support to students, young professionals, or others who embrace new and critical ways of thinking about the economy. YSI fosters conversation among those who wish to engage with new economic thinking and connects young scholars to the Institute’s vast network of economists.

Topics

Browse all INET content organized by topic

Thomas Ferguson

  • Research Director
  • Professor Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Boston
Involvement

Thomas Ferguson is the Research Director at the Institute for New Economic Thinking. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and Senior Fellow at Better Markets. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton University and taught formerly at MIT and the University of Texas, Austin. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including Golden Rule (University of Chicago Press, 1995) and Right Turn (Hill & Wang, 1986). His articles have appeared in many scholarly journals, including the Quarterly Journal of Economics, International Organization, International Studies Quarterly, and the Journal of Economic History. He is a member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Political Economy and a longtime Contributing Editor at The Nation.

By this expert

Big Money—Not Political Tribalism—Drives US Elections

Article By Thomas Ferguson, Paul Jorgensen, and Jie Chen | Oct 31, 2018

Conventional wisdom asserts that American politics is becoming more and more tribal. But the chiefs of the tribes share a lot in common: dependence on big money.

Economic Distress Did Drive Trump’s Win

Article By Thomas Ferguson, Benjamin Page, Jacob E. Rothschild, Arturo Chang, and Jie Chen | Oct 31, 2018

Contrary to the dominant media narrative, social issues like racism and sexism on their own can’t explain Trump’s success.

The Economic and Social Roots of Populist Rebellion: Support for Donald Trump in 2016

Paper Working Paper Series | By Thomas Ferguson, Benjamin Page, Jacob E. Rothschild, Arturo Chang, and Jie Chen | Oct 2018

This paper critically analyzes voting patterns in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

INET Memo to G20: The Trouble with Economic Research Evaluation

Article By Thomas Ferguson and Rob Johnson | May 28, 2018

In a memo for the G20, INET calls for changes to the evaluation of economic research to ensure that economic theory—and policy—is more rigorous, innovative, and in service to society. 

Featuring this expert

The Next Generation of New Economic Thinkers

Video Featuring Thomas Vass, Richard Koo, Thomas Ferguson, Jay Pocklington, Melissa Vergara Fernández, Rob Johnson, Maria Cäcilia Schweinberger , Stephen Kinsella, Adair Turner, Farah Khan, Perry G. Mehrling, Sanjay Reddy, and Julie Nelson | Mar 7, 2017

Explore your curiosity in economics in an open and critical community.

Two Hundred Years of Politics and High Finance

Video Featuring Marcello De Cecco and Thomas Ferguson | Oct 16, 2014

These videos cover not only Dr. de Cecco’s seminal research on the international gold standard, but his views on the international monetary system between the wars, the formation of the Bretton Woods system, and its breakdown – all topics on which Dr. de Cecco has written copiously.