# Alex Tabarrok

> Alex Tabarrok is a Canadian-American economist, the Bartley J. Madden Chair in Economics at the Mercatus Center and a professor of economics at George Mason University. With Tyler Cowen he co-writes the influential blog Marginal Revolution and co-founded Marginal Revolution University, one of the largest free online libraries of economics education. His work spans patent reform, the economics of innovation, high-skilled immigration, bounty hunters, and voting theory, and he became a prominent public voice during the COVID-19 pandemic advising the US government on incentives to accelerate vaccine production.

- **Role:** Bartley J. Madden Chair in Economics at the Mercatus Center and Professor of Economics at George Mason University
- **Organizations:** George Mason University, Mercatus Center, Marginal Revolution University, Marginal Revolution (blog), Independent Institute (former)
- **Nationality:** Canadian-American
- **Education:** Undergraduate studies, University of Victoria, Ph.D. in Economics, George Mason University
- **Known for:** Co-creator of Marginal Revolution, one of the world's most-read economics blogs, updated nearly daily since 2003, Co-founder of Marginal Revolution University, building one of the largest free online libraries of economics education (900+ videos), Co-author with Tyler Cowen of the bestselling textbook 'Modern Principles of Economics'

## Career timeline

- **1994** — Earned Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University
- **1998** — Published 'The Private Provision of Public Goods via Dominant Assurance Contracts' in Public Choice
- **1999** — Became Director of Research at the Independent Institute, Oakland, California
- **2003** — Co-founded the Marginal Revolution blog with Tyler Cowen
- **2009** — Delivered TED talk 'How ideas trump crises'
- **2011** — Published TED Book 'Launching the Innovation Renaissance'
- **2012** — Co-founded Marginal Revolution University with Tyler Cowen
- **2013** — Left Director of Research role at the Independent Institute; the 'Tabarrok Curve' featured in the Wall Street Journal
- **2020** — Advised the US government on incentives to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine production

## Achievements

- Co-creator of Marginal Revolution, one of the world's most-read economics blogs, updated nearly daily since 2003
- Co-founder of Marginal Revolution University, building one of the largest free online libraries of economics education (900+ videos)
- Co-author with Tyler Cowen of the bestselling textbook 'Modern Principles of Economics'
- Originator of the 'Tabarrok Curve' on the relationship between patent strength and innovation
- Author of the TED Book 'Launching the Innovation Renaissance' (2011)
- Advised the US government during the pandemic on vaccine incentives, advocating First Doses First, fractional dosing, and rapid testing
- Holds the Bartley J. Madden Chair in Economics at the Mercatus Center

## Latest updates

- **2020-12** — Served as a public advocate and government advisor on pandemic vaccine incentives, pushing First Doses First and fractional dosing.
- **2012-01** — Co-founded Marginal Revolution University, the free online economics education platform.

## Links

- Website: https://marginalrevolution.com
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/ATabarrok
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MarginalRevolutionUniversity

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/alex-tabarrok
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Last updated: 2026-06-02