Dr. Daron Djerdjian is the founder and President the Carl Menger Institute for Market Economics. He earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Syracuse University, New York, in 2004, specializing in International Trade Theory and Political Economy. Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Djerdjian has taught at the American University of Sharjah (UAE), and Occidental College (California/USA); he currently holds the position of Teaching Associate Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (California/USA).

A prolific scholar, Prof. Djerdjian has authored numerous research papers published in esteemed journals such as the Journal of International Finance and Economics, Review of World Economics, International Economic Journal, International Review of Economics and Finance, and The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy. His research has also been showcased at international venues such as the Global Conference on Business and Finance in San José, Costa Rica; the European Applied Business Research Conference in Rothenberg, Germany; and the European Economics and Finance Society International Conferences in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia, and the Greek island of Crete. He has also attended several prestigious conferences, such as the North American Summer Meeting of the Econometric Society at Brown University and the Mid-West International Economics Meetings at Northwestern University. His current research interests primarily focus on investigating the crucial role of market institutions in a thriving market economy.

As the progenitor of the groundbreaking concept of the “praxeonomic” order, Prof. Djerdjian has made significant contributions to our understanding of how societies can establish harmony and prosperity through the principles of Austrian economics. His innovative ideas and dedication to advancing the field have solidified his position as a leading figure in the world of market economics.

Peter is an ardent researcher who hails from a small agrarian community in the Austrian Alps, he pursues (and peruses) the Global Political Economy at Occidental College and the California Institute of Technology.

His research endeavors have been recognized by the Ford Foundation; currently, he is writing a book-length monograph on emerging norms in private international jurisprudence. Peter has been recognized as a Walter B. Gerken Honors Fellow in Public Policy, Bennett W. Schwartz Scholar in Economics, and John Parke Young Scholar in the Global Political Economy, as well as a Phi Beta Kappa Junior Fellow.

Having worked with (and consulted for) the United Nations, governmental agencies, investment funds, think-tanks, and student organizations, Peter's passion for advancing praxeonomy has been most evident in his role as a guest instructor and case writer: In these roles, he has kindled discussions and authored cases examining how market-based legal systems organically align individual incentives, resolve disputes, and spearhead the evolution of private law and polycentric legal orders.

Dr. David Friedman stands among the foremost scholars in economics and legal theory. Although his academic training was in chemistry and physics—with degrees from Harvard University and the University of Chicago—his intellectual pursuits have shaped contemporary thinking in economics, jurisprudence, and political philosophy. He serves as Professor Emeritus at Santa Clara University School of Law, having previously held teaching positions at several prestigious institutions, including the University of Chicago and UCLA.

His groundbreaking work "The Machinery of Freedom" remains a cornerstone text in anarcho-capitalist theory and offers a framework for understanding society through purely voluntary relationships. His other influential works, including "Price Theory: An Intermediate Text," "Law's Order: What Economics Has to Do with Law and Why It Matters," and "Legal Systems Very Different from Ours," have elevated economic and legal discourse beyond academic circles into broader intellectual discussion.

As an adjunct faculty member at the Carl Menger Institute, Friedman brings his unique perspective on market anarchism and his analytical approach to society's institutions. His current research focuses on the economic analysis of law and the private production of law and order.

He can be found at daviddfriedman.com and on his substack.

Dr. Robert P. Murphy is a distinguished economist specializing in Austrian economics, monetary theory, and energy policy. He serves as a Senior Fellow at the Fraser Institute and the Mises Institute, and is the Chief Economist at Infineo. Dr. Murphy earned his Ph.D. in economics from New York University in 2003, where he studied under Mario J. Rizzo. His academic career includes positions at Hillsdale College and Texas Tech University’s Free Market Institute.

Dr. Murphy is the author of several influential books, including Choice: Cooperation, Enterprise, and Human Action, Lessons for the Young Economist, and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Capitalism. He has also contributed extensively to the study of private law and market-based institutions. His work emphasizes the role of individual choice and voluntary exchange in the development of social order.

He hosts The Bob Murphy Show podcast and maintains the blog Free Advice, where he discusses economic theory and policy.

He can be found on X.

Dr. Per Bylund is the Johnny D. Pope Chair and Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business; he combines a diverse professional background with a deep passion for economic theory. Coming from picturesque archipelago of eastern Sweden, Bylund's career spans roles as a systems developer, business consultant, and entrepreneur.

He has earned degrees in business administration and business informatics from Jönköping International Business School, a master’s in political theory from Lund University, followed by a Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the University of Missouri. His professional experience includes significant contributions to IT and business consulting, as well as a research professorship at Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business.

Bylund’s entrepreneurial endeavors have profoundly shaped his research and teaching. His book, How to Think About the Economy: A Primer, published in August 2022, is a compelling introduction to economic literacy. It provides readers with a clear, accessible understanding of economic principles, challenging modern economic orthodoxy and promoting Austrian-School views.

He can be found at perbylund.com and on X.

Joyce Brand is an entrepreneur, author, and advocate for voluntary governance and the evolution of market-based institutions. From her work at Ciudad Morazán in Honduras—a flagship Free City project—she advances practical models for societies grounded in consent and entrepreneurial initiative.

Ms. Brand is the author of Pioneering Prosperity: The Morazán Model for Free Cities and co-author of Economics and the Spiritual Life of Free Men. Her writing explores how voluntary action and entrepreneurship serve as the primary forces behind incremental institutional development. Through her contributions to the Free Cities Foundation and allied organizations, she promotes a future where human flourishing emerges organically through individual choices, rather than imposed authority.

She can be found on morazanmodel.com, Substack, and X.

Dr. Thaddeus Russell is a maverick historian and public intellectual whose work challenges orthodox interpretations of American history and culture. He holds a Ph.D. in History from Columbia University and has taught at Barnard College, Columbia University, and The New School.

Founder of the Unregistered Academy and host of the Unregistered podcast, Dr. Russell co-hosts Unreported, platforms that amplify heterodox perspectives on politics, economics, and society. He is the author of "A Renegade History of the United States," which argues that societal progress often emerges from the actions of marginalized groups operating outside formal institutions—a theme resonant with the Austrian School's insights into decentralized human action and emergent order.

As an affiliated faculty member at the Carl Menger Institute, Dr. Russell applies historical critique to explore how informal, bottom-up social arrangements—from black markets to countercultural movements—have historically shaped economic behavior and institutional evolution.

He can be found at unregisteredacademy.com.