Experimental Research on the Division of Labor

One of the major areas of research at GMU is work on generalized increasing returns.  James Buchanan has been exploring the returns to the work-ethic for over 20 years, and Vernon Smith has been examining Adam Smith's proposition on the division of labor and social cooperation for as long.  Vernon's colleague Bart Wilson presented their joint research on this today in the Workshop in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.  Bart is an absolutely first-rate presenter and this work reflects both a profound appreciation for the Smithian (Adam that is) insight into the division of labor, and the amazing creativity required to design experiments that attempt to capture and test those critical insights.