I live in the Sourdough Creek watershed, just south of Bozeman. This mix of federal, state, and private lands is highly valued — as a recreation spot for city residents, for its wildlife habitat, and as one of Bozeman’s primary sources of drinking water. The watershed’s forests and soils are a natural filter for the […]

Rather than baling hay and irrigating, Ramona and I have spent this summer planning the Mont Pèlerin Society (MPS) meeting. This organization hosts the world’s premier Classical Liberals. Classical Liberalism does not refer to FDR and the big-government New Deal. It originated in the 19th century, committed to limiting political power and supporting individual rights. […]

We protect the environment because we care about clean air and preserving other species, not mainly for financial reasons. But we also value inexpensive supplies of power and fast and convenient transportation. All interesting and important policy questions involve choosing among competing values. Consider climate change. How does human action influence future climates? How willing […]

In the 1970s I created an institution at MSU, the Center for Political Economy and Natural Resources. Among its programs was one to introduce nationally prominent journalists and editors to environmental economics. We attracted top talents from top publications (e.g. Forbes, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post). When I […]