![]() “Economics is not right or left, it’s not political. Nick Snow, assistant professor of economics and Tom and Anne Walsh professor of philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE), said Matt fits in perfectly with an internship like AEC offered because of his enthusiasm to fully understand economics. “That way, he not only had a well-rounded understanding of the topic at hand, but he was also able to formulate a better argument.” “He also had me pull sources and examine the other side,” he continued. I was responsible for reading through those documents, compiling notes, and then formulating the basis of a paper arguing his side of the issue,” Franz said. He’d pull five to 10 sources on a topic he was really interested in, like inflation, for example. “I worked directly under an economics PhD and got to help him with his ongoing research. He also got to assist with publishing reports on two of the center’s key projects: the Free Market Road Show and European Resource Bank Meeting. “Being able to approach an issue with an open mind as a critical thinker has been one of the biggest things I’ve carried away from this experience,” he said.Īs an intern, Franz conducted research, assisted in coordination and planning of AEC projects, and wrote articles for the AEC website and Hayek Institute. “Going into this, I even believed the internship would confirm my beliefs, but it actually moved me more toward the center. I always thought I was more right-leaning when it came to economic policy and politics in general,” Franz said. “I was a very stubborn person coming into college and thought no one was going to change my mind. Not only did the Lilly Scholar learn more about free society, liberty, and Austrian economics at its origin, but Franz also got to learn more about himself. “The ability to study topics such as Hayek and the Austrian Business Cycle in Austria was surreal.” This internship did just that,” Franz explained. As Wabash men, we are challenged to stand tall. “The internship helped me grow and understand what I want for my future. Through education and improving public understanding of key economic questions, the AEC promotes the idea of a free market economy and the ideal of a free society. In carrying out its work, the AEC addresses a broad audience - from entrepreneurs and business leaders to economic thinkers and policy-makers to scholars and students, both domestically and abroad. To achieve this fundamental goal, it considers economic and socio-political questions, prepares studies, and recommends solutions. The AEC’s mission is to promote a free, responsible and prosperous society, according to the center’s website. With the help of Lewis McCrary, special advisor to the president for public policy opportunities, Franz was able to land a fully-funded summer internship with the AEC, a politically independent research institute that considers public policies, identifies economic alternatives, and attempts to realize them based on rigorous analysis and academic research. “I couldn’t pass up on an opportunity like that.” I could spend another summer working as a manager at McDonalds, or I could take a chance working for a think tank - something I had never done before and knew little about,” said Franz, who is studying economics. “Before the semester ended, I knew I had two choices. Matt Franz ’25 never pictured himself going out on his own for two months, working thousands of miles from home in a foreign country, and living with other college students from around the world who barely spoke the same language.īut the rising sophomore from Johnstown, Ohio, did that this summer as an intern for the Austrian Economics Center (AEC).įranz credits the confidence he gained and the skills he learned during his first year at Wabash for motivating him to take advantage of the opportunity in Vienna, Austria.
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