Dr. Franklin Mixon

Dr. Franklin Mixon

Dr. Franklin G. Mixon Jr. is the Violet Litchfield and Thomas Bryant Buck Professor of Economics at Columbus State University. He also serves as the Director of the University’s Center for Economic Education. Mixon earned a PhD in economics from Auburn University in 1992 and began his academic career at Southeastern Louisiana University that same year. His academic career also includes stints at the University of Southern Mississippi (1994-2007), Auburn University (2008-2009) and Mercer University (2009-2010). He has been at Columbus State University since 2010. In addition to a number of academic journal articles, Mixon has authored or edited nine scholarly books. He currently serves as Editor of the Journal of Financial Economic Policy.

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

I have followed the International Atlantic Economic Society’s oldest journal, the Atlantic Economic Journal, since graduate school. In fact, I published a paper in the Atlantic Economic Journal shortly after graduating and taking my first academic post. Interestingly, before the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, I was contacted by a video editor at Vox who was putting together a YouTube video about the Electoral College that discusses ideas from my 2017 Atlantic Economic Journal paper with Richard Cebula and Christopher Duquette on swing states and the winner-take-all Electoral College. That video has since been viewed 7.1 million times. My first paper in the Society’s younger journal, International Advances in Economic Research, came out in 2012. It was coauthored with Dr. Cebula and discussed the relationship between economic freedom and economic growth. That paper has since been cited 36 times. So, I have had success with the Society’s journals in the past.

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

I am currently working on a book on beauty in the workplace that focuses mainly on higher education. Some of the topics discussed include the relationships between instructor attractiveness and a number of variables, such as classroom performance and occupational choice. This is an area that I have working in for more than ten years. I am also continuing work I started a few years ago on the economics of surfing commons.

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

In addition to studying hard, I would suggest that young scholars work closely with a mentor or two in order to gain a better understanding of how to navigate the profession. That includes all of the small details in conducting economic research, including the administration of individual research projects.

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

I have always been involved with public choice research to one degree or another. I plan to get back into that research program a little bit more compared to the past few years. I also hope to continue my work in scientometrics, which began only seven or eight years ago.

What’s your favorite hobby?

I have been a golfer since I was young. I also enjoy fishing and playing with my dogs. I am an avid follower of collegiate athletics. On the more studious side, I enjoy reading histories of World War II.