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Jesse Colvin
Isaac, Mark; Benson, Bruce
Rasmussen, David W
2015-2016 Koch Foundation funding for Econ Dept. PhD. students
Monday, September 29, 2014 4:31:08 PM

Mark/Bruce--  
 
FYI--during John Hardin’s visit here Sept. 19-20, he confirmed that the Koch Foundation plans to
continue its annual funding for Econ Dept. PhD. students during 2015-2016 and in subsequent
years.  He encouraged us to go ahead and start working on the draft of a proposal  for the above
sooner rather than later.  That way he can review it this fall and provide advice/guidance/feedback
about it as needed.  John said to contact him with any questions you may have about it; he will be
glad to discuss them with you. 
 
Bruce--are you going to take the lead again this year and prepare the proposal for 2015-2016
funding to be submitted?  When you can, please let me know.  Many thanks. 
 
By the way, John also mentioned that the Koch Foundation is beginning to shift its research focus
away from economic freedom (and related issues/concerns) and concentrate instead on ways to
improve one’s personal economic situation.  Under that broad umbrella could be topics such as
ways to improve economic literacy (good news for the Stavros Center), economic security issues
(such as those that impact a rapidly expanding older population and the elderly) as well as the
economic costs/impact of the U.S. criminal justice system (at federal, state and local levels) on
individual citizens both inside and outside the system.  At some later date we should get together
and brainstorm possible ideas to explore with John Hardin. 
 
Jesse