Dr. James A. Leitzel

Dr. James A. Leitzel is the Executive Director of Public Policy at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. Jim’s research concerns vice policy, law and economics, and animal policy, and his books include Russian Economic Reform (Routledge, 1995), Regulating Vice (Cambridge University Press, 2008), and Law and Economics: A Guide for the Curious (Oxford University Press, 2015).

Jim teaches Law & Economics, Regulation of Vice, Consider the Lobster: Animal Law and Policy, and other courses in Public Policy, Economics, and Social Sciences.

If you recall, what influenced your decision to become a member of the International Atlantic Economic Society?

I believe I first attended an “Atlantic” conference in the 1980s — I think I learned about the association and the conferences from my graduate school classmate, David Hoass, who I see is now an emeritus(!) professor at Centenary College of Louisiana. My actual documentation doesn’t go back that far, alas, but I (surely?) presented “Breaking the Rules and Making the Rules: Notes on the Unintended Consequences of Policy Reform” at the Atlantic International Economic Conference, in Williamsburg in October 1995. What I enjoyed (and still enjoy) about the conferences was (and is) the welcoming and supportive atmosphere as well as the wide range of interesting academics who take part. I tried out a bunch of papers that, for me, were in new areas, and the kind receptions and the helpful comments were always much appreciated.

That 1995 paper appeared (in revised form, of course) in Policy Sciences in 1996. Decades later, other papers that I premiered at Atlantic conferences also made their way into journals. I am not sure these papers ever would have appeared without the Atlantic meetings, and even if they had appeared, they would have been less likely to end up published. So I owe a substantial debt to the Atlantics for boosting my academic productivity: thank you, Atlantics!

What types of projects/research are you currently working on and what inspired/motivated you to pursue these interests?

A “meat addiction” paper is a current project, coming as it does at the intersection of two of my interests, vice policy (the addiction part) and animal welfare (the meat part). I also am continuing my long term project (which included an IAES conference presentation) on Economics and Policy in Shakespeare. 

What advice would you give to someone who is considering entering your line of work/field of study?

My only advice to people getting into the field is so well-known as to be tiresome: if there is an area that is beginning to interest you, try to teach a course in that area. That is, don’t wait until you feel you have developed deep insight and expertise — take the leap, commit to teaching a class, you’ll be good, and the students will appreciate your interest in the field as you explore the topics together.

Going forward, what other projects/research are you planning or hoping to pursue?

I am afraid that the academic year calendar at the University of Chicago changed post-Covid, which has made it harder for me to attend conferences recently — but I hope to remedy that situation! Maybe a paper on Meat Addiction at a future IAES conference?

What’s your favorite hobby?

 As for hobbies, well, I spend a lot of time walking my dog Rocky, and I am an annoying vegan (though Rocky is an omnivore).