It’s not news that Gallatin County, like much of the West, is growing rapidly. Planners, politicians, and preservationists worry about the shape of our future. Restricting growth to preserve agriculture and open space increases housing costs (think Boulder, CO). Unchecked growth keeps home prices down but consumes land and other qualities that make this place […]

When Lewis and Clark explored our region, it was a vast “commons.” Anyone sufficiently skillful and lucky to survive the dangers could exploit its bounty of furs and gold. Without individual incentives to consider the common good, the land was subject to the “Tragedy of the Commons.” Consequently, beaver were trapped out in many areas […]

One of the best features of our community is the most difficult to measure. While we can cite symphonies, recommend fine restaurants, and calculate the distance to skiing, spring creeks, and Gallatin Field, how can we calculate the value of trust? The implicit ability to trust others facilitates social interaction. Trust reduces the costs of […]

Entrepreneurs are visionaries who see innovative ways to move resources to higher value. These resources include knowledge, ideals, and good intentions. Entrepreneurs make immense contributions to our wealth, health, and well-being. Noted entrepreneurs, Henry Ford and Bill Gates for example, created businesses that changed the world. The great majority of research on entrepreneurship focuses on […]