In this episode of Next Steps Forward, Dr. Meg Tuszynski, the Managing Director of the Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom in the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University, joins program host Dr. Chris Meek for a conversation championing economic freedom. Throughout the hour, Dr. Tuszynski will discuss her research to understand the causes and consequences of variations in economic freedom across nations, states, and localities, as well as her research seeking to advance our understanding of entangled political economy. She will provide the audience with a nuanced view of the intersection of economics, public policy and individual freedom, as well as provide insights on how economic freedom drives growth, fosters entrepreneurship and impacts inequality. She will also delve into the role of fiscal policies in shaping economic landscapes and their effects on women's careers. Tune in as she explores the power of free markets and provides valuable perspectives on key issues in modern economic thought.

About Dr. Meg Tuszynski: Dr. Meg Tuszynski is the Managing Director of the Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom in the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. She is also a Research Assistant Professor in the Cox School. Meg's research interests primarily fall into two categories. One category of research seeks to understand the causes and consequences of variations in economic freedom across nations, states, and localities. A second strand of research seeks to advance our understanding of entangled political economy, which analyzes the ways in which market and government actors are interlinked. Meg has published research in Public Choice, the Southern Economic Journal, the Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, the Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, and the American Journal of Entrepreneurship, among several others. She has also published popular pieces in outlets including Investors Business Daily, the Washington Examiner, the Dallas Morning News, and the Daily Caller. Meg lives in Texas with her husband, two children, and three dogs.