|Peter Boettke|
When baseball scouts look at potential players they judge them against a standard of what is called a five-tool-player. Such a player can hit for a high average, can hit with power, can run fast, has a strong throwing arm, and they have great fielding ability at their position. If you are an individual that can do all five of these things well at the professional level, then you will not only make it to MLB, you will be an impact player.
What is the equivalent in economics? I would argue those who are skilled in research, teaching, policy analysis, public outreach, and organizing inquiry. There are very few economists who possess all five-tools. Ben Powell is a clear example of such a five-tool-economist. Look at his book Out of Poverty; look at the impact he has had as a teacher at San Jose State, Suffolk, and now at Texas Tech; look at the policy work he did with The Independent Institute; look at work on TV and his Huffington Post columns; and look closely at Ben's work as an institutional entrepreneur at the Free Market Institute.
All of Ben's skills will be on display in his new TV program -- Free to Exchange -- where ironically as he puts it free market economics interacts with free public television.
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