Sarah Estelle

Sarah M. Estelle, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics and Business at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and director of the Markets & Morality program. She is a research fellow at the Acton Institute.

Posts by Sarah Estelle

March 29, 2019

‘The Road to Serfdom’ at 75: Reflecting on Hayek’s enduring work

This is the first in a series celebrating and exploring the enduring legacy and significance of Friedrich A. Hayek’s The Road to Serfdom. Friedrich A. Hayek’s The Road to Serfdom was first published 75 years ago this month. Continue Reading...

January 04, 2019

Criminal justice reform: Possible effects of the First Step Act

This is part three of a series on criminal justice reform. The First Step Act was one of the last laws passed by the 115th Congress and signed by President Trump before the current federal government shutdown. Continue Reading...

December 27, 2018

Criminal justice reform: What does economics have to say?

This is part two of a series on criminal justice reform. Read part one here. For many, crime and criminal justice are not obvious economic issues, despite their effects on public budgets due to the cost of courts, policing, investigating crimes, and much more. Continue Reading...

December 20, 2018

Criminal justice reform: What is it and why does it matter?

On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate voted 87-12 to pass the First Step Act. If enacted, the legislation would provide some reform of prisons and sentencing at the federal level. The most significant changes would be the implementation of incentives for prisoners to engage in “evidence-based recidivism reduction programs” and increased judicial discretion in sentencing. Continue Reading...