William F. Shughart II is the J. Fish Smith Professor in Public Choice at Utah State University's Huntsman School of Business. He holds concurrent roles as Distinguished Research Advisor and Senior Fellow at The Independent Institute, and has served as past President of the Public Choice Society and Southern Economic Association. His academic career spans institutions like George Mason University, Clemson University, and the University of Arizona. Shughart earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Texas A&M University (1978). His research focuses on public choice theory, antitrust policy, and regulatory economics. Notable contributions include editorship of Public Choice (2005–2022) and authorship of influential books like Taxing Choice: The Predatory Politics of Fiscal Discrimination and The Elgar Companion to Public Choice . He has authored over 140 journal articles, 68 book chapters, and numerous op-eds in outlets like the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times . His awards include the Distinguished Fellow designation from the Southern Economic Association and fellowships from prestigious institutions like the Antonin Scalia Law School’s Law and Economics Center. Shughart teaches courses such as Economics of Public Choice and Law and Economics , emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to governance and policy. His work often critiques government overreach, advocating market-driven solutions to public problems.









