Richard Salsman

Richard Salsman is a Research Professor of Political Science at Duke University's Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, specializing in political economy and public finance. His work focuses on the moral, practical, and political aspects of capitalism. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy from Duke (2012) and an MBA from New York University (1988). Salsman leads the PPE Program (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) at Duke, supported by grants from the Center for Excellence in Higher Education (2015–2026). He teaches courses on political economy, distributive justice, and social choice theory.

• Education: Ph.D., Political Economy (Duke University, 2012); MBA (New York University, 1988); B.A., Economics (Bowdoin College, 1981).

His research examines capitalism's sustainability, the ethics of rational egoism, and monetary systems. He critiques rent-seeking behaviors and advocates for gold-standard principles in monetary policy. Salsman has authored books like Where Have All the Capitalists Gone? and contributes essays to the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER).