Faculty

Founder, President, & Faculty
Daron O. Djerdjian
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.

Director
Ethan A. Akimoto
Ethan is a dedicated scholar and entrepreneur at the Carl Menger Institute. He holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Computer Science from Occidental College, from which he graduated in 2024. Through his work at the Institute, Ethan contributes to advancing a renewed conceptualization of market dynamics grounded in praxeonomic principles.
Ethan has participated in the esteemed Mises University program, deepening his understanding of Austrian economic principles. In January 2024, he co-founded "The Invisible Hand," a free-market economics educational institute, in collaboration with Professor Djerdjian. This initiative aims to promote human-based economics through various educational media.
He can be found on X.

Director
Peter H. Vartanian
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.

Faculty
Mark A. Skousen
Dr. Mark Skousen is an esteemed economist and author, serving as the Doti-Spogli Chair in Free Enterprise at Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business and Economics. Renowned for pioneering the concept of Gross Output (GO), Skousen has made impactful contributions through his extensive writings and as the founder of FreedomFest. He earned his B.A. and Master’s degree from Brigham Young University and his Ph.D. from George Washington University in 1977.
His influential works explore the Austrian School of economics, its historical development, and its applications in investment strategy. As our new adjunct faculty member and ambassador at large, Skousen will bring his expertise and dynamic approach to his inaugural talk on Carl Menger, further enriching our eponymous Institute.
He can be found at markskousen.com.

Faculty
David Gordon
Dr. David Gordon is a pre-eminent libertarian philosopher and intellectual historian, recognized for his expertise in Austrian economics and praxeology. He earned his Ph.D. in intellectual history from UCLA and serves as a senior fellow at the Ludwig von Mises Institute.
His seminal works, “The Philosophical Origins of Austrian Economics” and “Resurrecting Marx”, offer profound insights into economic theory and a critical examination of Marxist thought. Gordon’s research elucidates the ethical and philosophical divergences between Ludwig von Mises and Murray Rothbard, advancing our understanding of their contributions.
As an adjunct faculty member at the Carl Menger Institute, David Gordon provides invaluable depth and expertise to our academic endeavors.

Faculty
Matthew J. Geiger
Matthew is a dedicated scholar and researcher at the Carl Menger Institute for Market Economics. He is pursuing his Ph.D. in Economics at Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid, Spain, under the guidance of Professor Philipp Bagus.
The academic journey of Matthew began at Occidental College in Los Angeles, California, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 2020. During his time at Occidental, he served as a teaching assistant to Dr. Daron Djerdjian, overseeing the latter’s signature course, "Free Market Economics: The Austrian Perspective." Since then, Matthew has actively participated in numerous instructional programs and seminars, including the Rothbard Graduate Seminar and Mises University at the Ludwig von Mises Institute, the Ron Paul Scholars Seminar '21 & '24, the CEVRO Institute international summer school in classical liberalism, as well as the John Locke Institute in Washington, D.C.
Matthew's work has been published in the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics (26/1). As an adjunct instructor at the Menger Institute, Matthew brings his passion for praxeonomy, economics, and his dedication to research and teaching, contributing to the Institute's mission of advancing a renewed conceptualization of market phenomena.

Affiliated Faculty
Per L. Bylund
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.

Affiliated Faculty
David D. Friedman
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.

Affiliated Faculty
Thaddeus N. Russell
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.
Team Members
Board of Trustees
Daron O. Djerdjian
Ethan A. Akimoto
Peter H. Vartanian
Advisory Committee
Patil Kojikian, Communications Director
Matthew J. Geiger
James Lawson
Mark Skousen
Peter B. Bos
Faculty
Daron O. Djerdjian
Mark Skousen, Ambassador-at-large
David Gordon
Matthew J. Geiger
Per L. Bylund
David D. Friedman
Volunteers
Daron O. Djerdjian
Ethan Akimoto
Peter H. Vartanian
Mark Skousen
James Lawson
Brian Dempsey