John D. Mueller

John D. Mueller is the Lehrman Institute Fellow in Economics and Director of the Economics and Ethics Program at the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC). He also serves as an adjunct senior research fellow at the Social Futuring Center. Mueller specializes in the relation of modern economic theory to its Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman origins, with practical applications to personal, family, and political economy.

Mr. Mueller earned his bachelor's degree from Haverford College in 1974. After his children completed their education, he pursued advanced studies, receiving a master's degree in applied economics from the University of Maryland in 2019 and earning his doctorate in economics from Corvinus University in Budapest. Prior to his academic pursuits, Mueller retired in January 2015 as president of LBMC LLC, a firm specializing in economic and financial-market forecasting. From 1979 through 1988, he served as economist and speechwriter to Congressman Jack Kemp, drafting bills that influenced President Reagan's tax cuts.

Dr. Mueller's research focuses on integrating religious and philosophical traditions with modern economic theory. His seminal work, 'Redeeming Economics: Rediscovering the Missing Element,' argues for restoring the scholastic understanding of economics rooted in Aristotle, Augustine, and Thomas Aquinas. He has developed the AAA Index (or Index of Human Flourishing), which measures how well countries promote human flourishing based on scholastic moral philosophy. Mueller's scholarship critically examines the limitations of neoclassical economics while proposing a more comprehensive framework that accounts for both market exchanges and personal gifts within economic transactions. His work spans monetary policy, the effects of the dollar's reserve currency status, and the philosophical foundations of economic thought.

Dr. Mueller's research has generated significant scholarly attention, with 'Redeeming Economics' reviewed in numerous academic journals including National Review, First Things, and Journal of Economic Literature. His work has sparked dialogue across economics, philosophy, and theology disciplines, with scholars from Middlebury College, Wake Forest University, and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences engaging with his ideas.

• 'How the 'A-Team' Redeems Modern Economics' - The Family in America
• 'Summa Economica' - National Review
• Journal of Economic Literature Book Review
• 'A Review of Redeeming Economics' - First Things
• 'Dismal Science Redeemed' - The Public Discourse

While Mueller's primary scholarly contributions come through his publications, his policy experience deeply informs his academic work. Having advised numerous American and foreign economic policymakers on monetary policy, exchange rates, and tax reform, Mueller brings practical insights to his theoretical framework. His work on the AAA Index represents an ongoing research project with potential applications for policy development and international comparisons of economic well-being. Mueller's economic perspective uniquely bridges theoretical rigor with practical policy implications, offering alternative frameworks for understanding economic phenomena through the lens of scholastic philosophy.

Dr. Mueller leads the Economics and Ethics Program at EPPC, which serves as the primary hub for his research on the intersection of economic theory and moral philosophy. His work with the Social Futuring Center connects his scholarship to broader questions about societal development and future economic trajectories, particularly through the development of indices that measure human flourishing beyond traditional economic metrics.