Economics Institute for State Attorneys General: Mixed Modality

Economics Institute for State Attorneys General: Mixed Modality

In Fall 2026, the Law & Economics Center launched the inaugural cohort of the Economics Institute for State Attorneys General: Mixed Modality, a no-cost program for state attorneys general, state solicitors general, and attorneys in their offices. Participants deepen their understanding of economic principles central to legal and public policy disputes and learn to deploy economic tools that can assist them in their work.

The mixed-modality format combines self-paced asynchronous modules with virtual synchronous modules offered twice to accommodate demanding government schedules, culminating in a 2½-day in-person topical capstone at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School.

Institute Cohorts

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Fall 2026 Cohort

Inaugural Cohort

 

DurationSeptember – November 2026

 

Capstone OptionsThe Regulation & Economics of Emerging Technologies: AI, Blockchain, & Crypto (March 17–20, 2027)The Economics of Consumer Welfare & Protection: Antitrust and Other Vehicles (May 2–5, 2027)

 

Participants30

 

States Represented15

Spring 2027 Cohort

Now Accepting Applications

 

DurationJanuary – March 2027

 

Capstone OptionsThe Regulation & Economics of Emerging Technologies: AI, Blockchain, & Crypto (March 17–20, 2027)The Economics of Consumer Welfare & Protection: Antitrust and Other Vehicles (May 2–5, 2027)

 

Participants & StatesCohort enrollment and state representation will be shared once participants begin the remote portion of the program.
Apply for Spring 2027 Cohort (opens in a new tab)

Highlights

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Participants Deepen their Understanding of Economic Principles Central to Legal and Public Policy Disputes

Topics:

  • The Vocabulary & Terminology of Law & Economics
  • The Economics Perspective: Incentives Matter
  • Supply, Demand & Mutually Beneficial Exchange
  • Markets Restraints
  • Markets in Action: Shocks and Dynamic Response
  • The Economics of Crime & Punishment
  • Incompatible Uses of Property Rights
  • Property Rights & the Coase Theorem
  • Risk, Injury & Liability
  • Public Choice Economics
  • The Welfare Costs of Tariffs, Monopolies, & Theft

 

Eligibility

Applications are open for state attorneys general, state solicitors general, and their staff lawyers.

Multiple attorneys from the same state attorney general office may participate.

Apply for Spring 2027 Cohort (opens in a new tab)

 

Accommodating to Government Attorneys’ Schedules

  • 11 Modules—6 Asynchronous and 5 Synchronous
  • Complete one module every two weeks
  • Culminates with a 2½-day in-person topical capstone program at Scalia Law

Asynchronous Modules

  • 6 sessions to complete at your own pace
  • No individual section will exceed 20 minutes, and most sections run between 3–10 minutes
  • Each module is expected to take approximately 60–75 minutes to complete

Synchronous Modules

  • Consists of a Zoom session taught by a lead instructor
  • To provide scheduling flexibility, each virtual session will be offered twice
  • Each synchronous module is approximately 60 minutes long

 

Offered as a Public Service at No Cost

Program Cost & Support:

  • Law & Economics Center programs are provided as a public service.
  • The Economics Institute is tuition-free, offered at no cost to participants or their states.
  • For the capstones, the LEC covers participants’ lodging and group meals, and reimburses (travel reimbursement policy, PDF) (opens in a new tab) their travel expenses, including air or rail travel, ground transportation, and ride-share services.

 

Expert Faculty

Instruction from Expert Law & Economics Faculty from across the country.

More info on the 23 faculty members can be found in their corresponding modules.

View Modules and Faculty

 

In‑Person Topical Capstones

The Economics Institute concludes with a 2½-day in-person topical capstone program at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School.

Now Pursuing CLE Credit!

Spring 2027 Capstones:

The Regulation & Economics of Emerging Technologies: AI, Blockchain, & CryptoWednesday, March 17 –
Saturday, March 20, 2027

OR

The Economics of Consumer Welfare & Protection: Antitrust and Other VehiclesSunday, May 2 –
Wednesday, May 5, 2027

* The LEC is actively pursuing CLE accreditation for the Spring 2027 capstones. Accreditation applications will be submitted once capstone agendas are finalized, and we will update participants accordingly.

Top-of-the-Line Instruction Delivered in a Convenient Virtual Format

Instructors for the Economics Institute for State Attorneys General bring both academic expertise and real-world experience in the areas AG offices navigate every day.

Watch a sample recorded lecture from Tyler Cowen, one of the many guest lecturers who contributed to the Institute.

 

Closed captions are available. Select the CC button in the video player to turn them on.

Tyler Cowen on IncentivesVideo not loading? Watch it directly on Echo360 (opens in a new tab)

Modules and Faculty

Hover over, tap, or use the Tab key to reach a card and reveal its details. Select a faculty member’s name for their full bio.

Asynchronous

Module 1: The Vocabulary & Terminology of Law & Economics

Lead Instructor

Synchronous

Module 2: The Economics Perspective: Incentives Matter

Lead Instructor

Guest Lecturers

Asynchronous

Module 3: Supply, Demand & Mutually Beneficial Exchange

Lead Instructor

Guest Lecturers

Synchronous

Module 4: Markets in Action: Shocks and Dynamic Response

Lead Instructor

Guest Lecturer

Asynchronous

Module 5: Property Rights & the Coase Theorem

Lead Instructor

Guest Lecturers

Synchronous

Module 6: Market Restraints

Lead Instructor

Guest Lecturer

Asynchronous

Module 7: Risk, Injury & Liability

Lead Instructor

Guest Lecturers

Synchronous

Module 8: The Economics of Crime & Punishment

Lead Instructor

Guest Lecturer

Asynchronous

Module 9: Public Choice Economics

Lead Instructor

Guest Lecturers

Synchronous

Module 10: Incompatible Uses of Property Rights

Lead Instructor

Asynchronous

Module 11: The Welfare Costs of Tariffs, Monopolies, & Theft

Lead Instructor

Guest Lecturers

In-Person Topical Capstones

The Economics Institute concludes with a 2½-day in-person topical capstone at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School in Arlington, Virginia. Participants choose one of two Spring 2027 capstones:

The Regulation & Economics of Emerging Technologies: AI, Blockchain, & Crypto

Wednesday, March 17 – Saturday, March 20, 2027

The Economics of Consumer Welfare & Protection: Antitrust and Other Vehicles

Sunday, May 2 – Wednesday, May 5, 2027

The LEC is actively pursuing CLE accreditation for the Spring 2027 capstones.

Apply for the Spring 2027 Cohort (opens in a new tab)