Erik W. Matson

Mercatus Center at George Mason University

3434 Washington Blvd., 4th Floor

Arlington, VA 22201

United States

  • Mercatus Center at George Mason University

SCHOLARLY PAPERS

29

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52

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10

Scholarly Papers (29)

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1.

The Man within the Breast, the Supreme Impartial Spectator, and Other Impartial Spectators in Adam Smith's The Theory of Moral Sentiments

GMU Working Paper in Economics No. 18-04, Forthcoming in: History of European Ideas
Number of pages: 33 Posted: 16 Mar 2018 Last Revised: 24 Sep 2018
Daniel B. Klein, Erik W. Matson and Colin Doran
George Mason University - Department of Economics, Mercatus Center at George Mason University and George Mason University - Department of Economics
Downloads 341 (152,926)
Citation 10

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Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, philosophy, the impartial spectator, the man within the breast

2.

Hume and Smith on Utility, Agreeableness, Propriety, and Moral Approval

GMU Working Paper in Economics No. 17-01, History of European Ideas Forthcoming
Number of pages: 62 Posted: 12 Dec 2016 Last Revised: 21 Nov 2018
Erik W. Matson, Colin Doran and Daniel B. Klein
Mercatus Center at George Mason University, George Mason University - Department of Economics and George Mason University - Department of Economics
Downloads 231 (227,678)
Citation 5

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Adam Smith, David Hume, Theory of Moral Sentiments, utility, propriety

3.

Mere-Liberty in David Hume

Forthcoming, A Companion to David Hume (Universidad Francisco Marroquin), GMU Working Paper in Economics No. 18-14
Number of pages: 40 Posted: 07 Jun 2018 Last Revised: 14 Oct 2020
Daniel B. Klein and Erik W. Matson
George Mason University - Department of Economics and Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 218 (240,464)
Citation 1

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commutative justice, jural relationships, jural dualism, convention, focal point, mutual coordination, Adam Smith

4.

What's Liberal About Adam Smith's 'Liberal Plan'?

Southern Economic Journal, https://doi.org/10.1002/soej.12601
Number of pages: 18 Posted: 25 May 2021 Last Revised: 23 Aug 2022
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 184 (280,322)
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Adam Smith, the liberal plan, economic freedom, increasing returns to scale, high wages, liberalism

5.

A Review Essay of Dennis Rasmussen, 'The Infidel and the Professor: David Hume, Adam Smith, and the Friendship That Shaped Modern Thought'

Number of pages: 7 Posted: 12 Dec 2017
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 168 (303,382)
Citation 1

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David Hume, Adam Smith, Dennis Rasmussen, The Infidel and the Professor

6.

David Hume on Reason as a Passion

GMU Working Paper in Economics No. 15-13
Number of pages: 8 Posted: 06 Mar 2015 Last Revised: 04 May 2018
Daniel B. Klein and Erik W. Matson
George Mason University - Department of Economics and Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 163 (311,289)

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David Hume, reason, passion, calm passion

7.

A Dialectical Reading of Adam Smith on Wealth and Happiness

Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, Forthcoming
Number of pages: 37 Posted: 05 Nov 2018 Last Revised: 20 Nov 2020
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 160 (316,242)
Citation 3

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Adam Smith, happiness, wealth, moral education, prudence

8.

A Brief History of the Editions of the Theory of Moral Sentiments

Adam Smith Works
Number of pages: 17 Posted: 29 Oct 2020 Last Revised: 20 Jul 2021
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 151 (331,959)

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Adam Smith; Theory of Moral Sentiments; Moral Education; Commerce; Science of Man

9.

Convention without Convening

Constitutional Political Economy, forthcoming, GMU Working Paper in Economics No. 20-06
Number of pages: 39 Posted: 06 Feb 2020 Last Revised: 18 Nov 2021
Erik W. Matson and Daniel B. Klein
Mercatus Center at George Mason University and George Mason University - Department of Economics
Downloads 150 (333,794)
Citation 3

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David Hume, David K. Lewis, natural convention, justice, property

10.

Adam Smith's Humean Attitude About Science; Illustrated by the History of Astronomy

Adam Smith Review, Forthcoming
Number of pages: 26 Posted: 20 Sep 2016 Last Revised: 06 May 2018
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 132 (369,024)
Citation 1

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Adam Smith, History of Astronomy, David Hume, Naturalism, Skepticism

11.

The Edifying Discourse of Adam Smith: Focalism, Commerce, and Serving the Common Good

Forthcoming in the Journal of the History of Economic Thought
Number of pages: 34 Posted: 09 Dec 2020 Last Revised: 20 Jul 2021
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 122 (391,689)
Citation 3

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focalism; common good; universal benevolence; political economy; economics and ethics

12.

The Elevated Imagination: Contemplation and Action in David Hume and Adam Smith

Journal of Scottish Philosophy, Forthcoming
Number of pages: 27 Posted: 20 Sep 2016 Last Revised: 25 Oct 2019
Erik W. Matson and Colin Doran
Mercatus Center at George Mason University and George Mason University - Department of Economics
Downloads 102 (445,858)
Citation 1

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Adam Smith, David Hume, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, A Treatise of Human Nature

13.

Reason and Political Economy in Hume

Erasmus Journal for Philosophy and Economics, Forthcoming
Number of pages: 32 Posted: 25 Oct 2018 Last Revised: 07 Mar 2019
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 91 (480,597)
Citation 3

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Hume, reason, political economy, methodology

14.

Satisfaction in Action: Hume's Endogenous Theory of Preferences and the Virtues of Commerce

Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, Forthcoming
Number of pages: 38 Posted: 27 Mar 2020 Last Revised: 10 Nov 2020
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 89 (487,161)
Citation 1

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David Hume; endogenous preferences; sympathy; economic philosophy; commercial society.

15.

The Dual Account of Reason and the Spirit of Philosophy in Hume's Treatise

Forthcoming in Hume Studies, GMU Working Paper in Economics No. 17-49
Number of pages: 41 Posted: 19 Nov 2017 Last Revised: 04 Jan 2021
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 80 (519,763)
Citation 1

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David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature, reason, skepticism, imagination, induction

16.

Economics and the Moral Theology of Mutual Benefits

Number of pages: 23 Posted: 11 Oct 2022 Last Revised: 30 Jan 2023
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 77 (531,502)

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vocation, theology, mutual benefit, division of labor, Hutcheson, Adam Smith, David Hume, common good

17.

Religion, the Scottish Enlightenment, and the Rise of Liberalism: Symposium Introduction

Research in the History of Economic Thought and Methodology, forthcoming
Number of pages: 11 Posted: 08 Sep 2022
Erik W. Matson and Jordan J. Ballor
Mercatus Center at George Mason University and Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy
Downloads 77 (531,502)

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religion; Adam Smith; liberalism; the Scottish Enlightenment; liberal theology; history of economic thought

18.

Ethical Economics or Economical Ethics? Considerations out of Carl Menger

Review of Austrian Economics, Forthcoming
Number of pages: 44 Posted: 04 Apr 2022 Last Revised: 15 Jun 2022
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 67 (573,763)
Citation 1

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Ethics; economic methodology; institutions; behavioral economics; social norms; Adam Smith

19.

Butler and Smith's Ethical and Theological Framing of Commerce

Adam Smith, Theology, and Morality, ed. Ballor and van der Kooi (London: Routledge, Forthcoming)
Number of pages: 41 Posted: 09 Mar 2021 Last Revised: 28 Jun 2021
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 63 (591,994)
Citation 1

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Joseph Butler; Adam Smith; commerce; theology; self-love; charity

20.

David Hume, Economic Rationality, and Policy: Symposium Introduction

Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, Forthcoming
Number of pages: 7 Posted: 09 Dec 2020
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 60 (606,575)

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David Hume; true preferences; error; endogenous preferences; general rules; instability; coordination regime; conservatism; liberalism; ethics of innovation; classical economics; group analytics

21.

Our Dynamic Being Within: Smithian Challenges to the New Paternalism

Journal of Economic Methodology, forthcoming
Number of pages: 26 Posted: 23 Apr 2021 Last Revised: 06 Nov 2022
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 54 (637,893)

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Adam Smith; behavioral economics; paternalism; welfare: The Theory of Moral Sentiments; impartial spectator

22.

The Behavioral Welfare Economist in Society: Considerations from David Hume

Number of pages: 23 Posted: 18 Feb 2021
Erik W. Matson and Malte F. Dold
Mercatus Center at George Mason University and Pomona College - Department of Economics
Downloads 51 (654,550)

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David Hume; behavioral economics; welfare; paternalism; rhetoric of behavioral economics

23.

An Economist's Philosopher: A Review of Margaret Schabas and Carl Wennerlind, "A Philosopher's Economist: Hume and the Rise of Capitalism"

Forthcoming in Hume Studies
Number of pages: 5 Posted: 22 Dec 2021
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 49 (665,853)

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David Hume, A Philosopher's Economist, ethics and economics, economic methodology

24.

The Sympathetic Formation of Reason and the Limits of Science

Society
Number of pages: 20 Posted: 20 Sep 2016 Last Revised: 09 Sep 2020
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 49 (665,853)

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David Hume, Adam Smith, Reason, Knowledge, Confirmatory Bias, Behavioral Economics

25.

God, Commerce, and Adam Smith through the Editions of TMS

Forthcoming in Journal of Markets & Morality
Number of pages: 27 Posted: 16 Sep 2021
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 48 (671,792)

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Adam Smith, Theory of Moral Sentiments, theology, commerce, impartial spectator

26.

A Review of 'Our Great Purpose. Adam Smith on Living a Better Life' by Ryan Patrick Hanley

Number of pages: 6 Posted: 16 Jul 2020
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 46 (683,879)

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Adam Smith; Ryan Patrick Hanley; universal benevolence; love; commerce

27.

‘To Keep Industry Alive’: Hume on Freer International Trade As Moral Improvement

Forthcoming in 'British International Thought in the Making,' eds. B. Bourcier and M. Jakonen (Palgrave Macmillan)
Number of pages: 25 Posted: 15 Oct 2022 Last Revised: 24 Oct 2022
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 40 (722,854)

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28.

Hume on the Protestant Ethic and the Rise of English Commercial Spirit

Number of pages: 30 Posted: 20 Jul 2023
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 35 (758,239)

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David Hume; Max Weber; Protestantism; commercial spirit; The History of England; luxury

29.

Commerce as Cooperation with the Deity: Self-Love, the Common Good, and the Coherence of Francis Hutcheson

European Journal for the History of Economic Thought (forthcoming)
Number of pages: 30 Posted: 04 Jan 2023 Last Revised: 09 Mar 2023
Erik W. Matson
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Downloads 34 (765,672)

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Francis Hutcheson, self-love, the division of labor, property, divine providence